tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17395752010868309632019-09-02T04:50:38.544-04:00Whimbrel NatureSights and Sounds from NatureWhimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-27952225231441304792018-09-01T00:14:00.000-04:002018-09-01T00:14:07.375-04:00Taking A Vacation From Photography (Not Really)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pBiOfCdPJs/W4mOxZ797xI/AAAAAAAACLI/vWO6YCVlq04I88XsPHE5B2lurszQOA9iQCLcBGAs/s1600/SaintMarguerite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5pBiOfCdPJs/W4mOxZ797xI/AAAAAAAACLI/vWO6YCVlq04I88XsPHE5B2lurszQOA9iQCLcBGAs/s1600/SaintMarguerite.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Saint Marguerite"</b></i> - A statue of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys stands in La Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal, Canada. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/30 second, f/8.0, ISO 3200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I know it's been a long while since I've written a blog post. I'm sorry for that. If you have Instagram, please follow me there: @whimbrel_nature as that is where I've been posting the most these days. But I promise to blog more in the coming months and hopefully start to add more video to the mix as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oXY1wJwHGU/W4mUzq3H7dI/AAAAAAAACLU/yQj6KXgJEooeod7dvGuN8Y_rceFNmjzKwCLcBGAs/s1600/Opulent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oXY1wJwHGU/W4mUzq3H7dI/AAAAAAAACLU/yQj6KXgJEooeod7dvGuN8Y_rceFNmjzKwCLcBGAs/s1600/Opulent.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Opulent"</i></b> - The altar area of La Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal, Canada. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/10 second, f/8.0, ISO 3200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Today I wanted to write about taking a vacation from your photography. But not actually a vacation from your photography completely (although that can be good sometimes too); instead a vacation from your usual style/mode of photography. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Montreal with my lovely wife. Lovely as she is, she understandably has no patience for my normal mode of photography where I might spend hours working one subject or area. She made me promise that if I brought my camera, I would just take quick snapshots as we went about our vacation. No long periods spent composing and working a subject and no special photography-only side trips. This is not my normal mode of photography. As such, I almost left all my heavy gear at home and resigned myself to only using my iPhone. But at the last moment, I decided to haul my gear along and I'm glad that I did.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sa-PR8wjqcE/W4mXvJ4nbgI/AAAAAAAACLg/5FRyZAhtu1ItBwUuMWrsD8baANWjxwkkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bulbous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sa-PR8wjqcE/W4mXvJ4nbgI/AAAAAAAACLg/5FRyZAhtu1ItBwUuMWrsD8baANWjxwkkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bulbous.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Bulbous"</i></b> - Large stacks of garlic bulbs were a common sight with great visual appeal at the Jean-Talon open air market. iPhone 7, 1/300 second, f/1.8, ISO 20, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Each day we went out, I'd bring a very stripped down set of gear. I left my trusty tripod (which I use in well over 90% of my photography) at the apartment. That was hard. I left the house only with my Canon 6D, a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, and my iPhone 7. For quicker trips to the market etc... I did only bring my iPhone 7.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVLDSaNDgZA/W4moE_ksuuI/AAAAAAAACLs/7HW-ZCBVzb0-JH9SvcIm9NaoNuX35x7TQCLcBGAs/s1600/RedDoorsBlueDoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVLDSaNDgZA/W4moE_ksuuI/AAAAAAAACLs/7HW-ZCBVzb0-JH9SvcIm9NaoNuX35x7TQCLcBGAs/s1600/RedDoorsBlueDoors.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Red Doors, Blue Doors"</i></b> - A set of interesting apartment doors near The Plateau area of Montreal. Most buildings in this area have a set of street level apartments and then second floor apartments accessed by a metal staircase. iPhone 7, 1/900 second, f/1.8, ISO 20.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />It was a worthwhile exercise to shoot all handheld and to be forced to shoot rapidly, without much pre-planning or limitless recomposing. Not only was it kind of fun to do something different, but it also caused me to think quicker on my feet, become more familiar with my camera controls on my relatively new 6D Mark II body, and worry a bit more about my shutter speed than I normally would with tripod-based landscape or architecture photography.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5eNoABcHU0/W4nP71q9kYI/AAAAAAAACL4/DQDY_GFivsYPyVXxSErRua29yzoroNYYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Reseau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5eNoABcHU0/W4nP71q9kYI/AAAAAAAACL4/DQDY_GFivsYPyVXxSErRua29yzoroNYYwCLcBGAs/s1600/Reseau.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"R</i></b><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>éseau"</i></b> - Part of the Underground City or&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">RÉSO, a network of over 20 miles of interconnected pedestrian tunnels and buildings in downtown Montreal, Canada. This particular tunnel features the frame of a former bank vault. This network allows downtown Montreal residents to go about their business without ever having to go outside during the harsh winters. I loved the geometry, colors,&nbsp; light, and reflections in this particular tiny part of the network. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/10 second, f/8.0, ISO 400, handheld.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Limitations, particularly ones you are not normally used to, can also really spur creativity. In addition to taking some images that I would not normally do otherwise, I also used the opportunity to take lots of images of architecture and public art that I can use for later composites. For this, I used both my Canon and my iPhone, but more predominantly the iPhone.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPx9gfvfyzw/W4nUQy6Ve8I/AAAAAAAACME/EBBbllm0L3gr4tB41CeSVSVq3lUkCB2bwCLcBGAs/s1600/MontrealOrigami.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UPx9gfvfyzw/W4nUQy6Ve8I/AAAAAAAACME/EBBbllm0L3gr4tB41CeSVSVq3lUkCB2bwCLcBGAs/s1600/MontrealOrigami.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Montreal Origami"</i></b> - One of my initial composites from Montreal, composed from an iPhone 7 image of an academic building at McGill, an iPhone 7 image of the corner of a building in The Plateau region, and an extracted image of part of an abandoned grain elevator in the old port taken with my Canon 6D Mark II and my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L lens.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWsyDqyTQWk/W4nWmW4DE9I/AAAAAAAACMQ/YfYz9j_KIXUMmpCb3NXjk_M2orgRYtg3wCLcBGAs/s1600/Mural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWsyDqyTQWk/W4nWmW4DE9I/AAAAAAAACMQ/YfYz9j_KIXUMmpCb3NXjk_M2orgRYtg3wCLcBGAs/s1600/Mural.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of some of the great murals and graffiti art scattered around the Plateau, Latin Quarter, and Gay Village neighborhoods.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I even dabbled in some people photography. Although as is my tendency with people/street photography, I tended to focus on gesture and body language, more than faces. I don't think this is because I'm uncomfortable approaching subjects, I've done that before. I think it is because I'm more interested in a more general representation of humanity and the human condition, rather than focusing on a particular individual, in much of my people work.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC13-2zElz0/W4nbk46o5uI/AAAAAAAACMc/IXMAFV2ij8Io6eG7Lw0floXV2sLsfjdaACLcBGAs/s1600/Impatience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CC13-2zElz0/W4nbk46o5uI/AAAAAAAACMc/IXMAFV2ij8Io6eG7Lw0floXV2sLsfjdaACLcBGAs/s1600/Impatience.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Impatience"</i></b> - This small family sat in some chairs inside the Chalet du mont Royal, but the "dad" was anxious to get moving again. This image was even more of stretch for me as I generally don't like photographing at touristy areas during touristy times of day, or going places with large crowds in general. Converting to black and white allowed me to really emphasize the contrasty lighting and deep shadows and eliminate a lot of distracting color in the background outside the doors. iPhone 7, 1/450 second, f/1.8, ISO 20, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPS26-Oh2AY/W4neRE9Va9I/AAAAAAAACMo/t0YErE878PAAPU2yCjP3Tn1fMoDGDVzzgCLcBGAs/s1600/LookingOutward.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TPS26-Oh2AY/W4neRE9Va9I/AAAAAAAACMo/t0YErE878PAAPU2yCjP3Tn1fMoDGDVzzgCLcBGAs/s1600/LookingOutward.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Looking Outward"</i></b> - This image was also taken from inside the Chalet du mont Royal in the Parc du Mont-Royal.&nbsp; I love the way this doorway frames the scene and the pensive pose this young lady in the dress held for a long time. The telephoto served to compress the scene and make the buildings look closer than they are in reality. Canon 6D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, 1/160 second, f/16, ISO 400.</td></tr></tbody></table>The architecture in Montreal is amazing and varied. In some ways I really found myself wanting to slow down or revisit in better light. However, learning to shoot good images during less than ideal time or lighting conditions is a worthwhile skill to develop.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxzLaChR3JI/W4n5S1pLTeI/AAAAAAAACM0/5lNNJewXvSYvQuQ8uBlL-SOu6tkhDSJeACLcBGAs/s1600/Opulent2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxzLaChR3JI/W4n5S1pLTeI/AAAAAAAACM0/5lNNJewXvSYvQuQ8uBlL-SOu6tkhDSJeACLcBGAs/s1600/Opulent2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Opulent II"</i></b> - A view of the ceiling and organ of La Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal, Canada. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/10 second, f/8.0, ISO 3200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQWmcpwoepA/W4n6qDexaCI/AAAAAAAACNA/PD9cvPSaL5YBcvUxirWorPg1w4yAGxSwQCLcBGAs/s1600/ChaletChandelier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FQWmcpwoepA/W4n6qDexaCI/AAAAAAAACNA/PD9cvPSaL5YBcvUxirWorPg1w4yAGxSwQCLcBGAs/s1600/ChaletChandelier.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Chalet Chandelier"</i></b> - Looking up at the ceiling and the interesting chandelier at the Chalet du mont Royal in the Parc du Mont-Royal. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/10 second, f/8.0, ISO 250, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQljhvs7U64/W4n8KN3TbKI/AAAAAAAACNM/aisRvMQkHPwd-hGZIMplYeAk-mKcSpD_gCLcBGAs/s1600/OldMoney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XQljhvs7U64/W4n8KN3TbKI/AAAAAAAACNM/aisRvMQkHPwd-hGZIMplYeAk-mKcSpD_gCLcBGAs/s1600/OldMoney.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Old Money"</i></b> - A row of old banks and hotels in the western section of Old Montreal. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/1250 second, f/8.0, ISO 400, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VqSjVGIJx_w/W4n9gWWVAJI/AAAAAAAACNY/vnGJ5mU8Ea0DnwfAkxDKDUMyZqiFhY1sQCLcBGAs/s1600/RoyalTreatment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VqSjVGIJx_w/W4n9gWWVAJI/AAAAAAAACNY/vnGJ5mU8Ea0DnwfAkxDKDUMyZqiFhY1sQCLcBGAs/s1600/RoyalTreatment.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Royal Treatment"</i></b> - Architectural detail in the main hall of the former Royal Bank Tower, which is now a beautiful cafe. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/15 second, f/8.0, ISO 3200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW_XmAzRX48/W4n-vBENi_I/AAAAAAAACNg/W2tGqN4riY49xjUDYpOHwnMXW_mNvhpDgCLcBGAs/s1600/WorldTrade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jW_XmAzRX48/W4n-vBENi_I/AAAAAAAACNg/W2tGqN4riY49xjUDYpOHwnMXW_mNvhpDgCLcBGAs/s1600/WorldTrade.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"World Trade"</i></b> - Inside the Montreal World Trade Center and one of the many entrances to the RÉSO. Canon 6D Mark II, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/160 second, f/8.0, ISO 400, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K2yB1ouSDwk/W4oOuNcNk4I/AAAAAAAACOE/yDYpUBqySZUEc4ZN18GuwYEoMJabXdOGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Biodome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K2yB1ouSDwk/W4oOuNcNk4I/AAAAAAAACOE/yDYpUBqySZUEc4ZN18GuwYEoMJabXdOGgCLcBGAs/s1600/Biodome.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Biosphere"</i></b> - One of the first things you notice when driving into Montreal from the south, the Biosphere was the United States pavilion for the Expo 67 World's Fair. The geodesic dome was designed by Buckminster Fuller. Canon 6D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, 1/400 second, f/13, ISO 200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table>Montreal also has a fascinating history and a lot of those historical tensions are still visible in the city today. The initial European settlement was founded by the French and Catholic religious orders. Later the English took over and held economic power. The tension between French speakers/culture and English speakers/culture continues to this day and there are even laws on the books to keep French the predominant language of the city. While photographing the city, I tried to stay cognizant of this history and do justice to both the city's religious roots and the tension between the French and English.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ugl5lAsUej4/W4oKhh2SZ3I/AAAAAAAACNs/r4zsr6WFIS8EcvM-jefPupUBvSP0p5t8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PrayersSaidAndUnsaid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ugl5lAsUej4/W4oKhh2SZ3I/AAAAAAAACNs/r4zsr6WFIS8EcvM-jefPupUBvSP0p5t8ACLcBGAs/s1600/PrayersSaidAndUnsaid.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Prayers, Said and Unsaid"</i></b> - Catholicism has played a major role in the history of Montreal and several historic churches and cloisters are found in Old Montreal. These prayer candles were photographed in the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours in Old Montreal. Canon 6D Mark II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens, 1/25 second, f/8.0, ISO 3200, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QIGflo4uNBk/W4oNWCkX3mI/AAAAAAAACN4/y2739mHrRfQATIPTLLi5obb1nCxVyhG2gCLcBGAs/s1600/CityInPieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QIGflo4uNBk/W4oNWCkX3mI/AAAAAAAACN4/y2739mHrRfQATIPTLLi5obb1nCxVyhG2gCLcBGAs/s1600/CityInPieces.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"City, In Pieces"</i></b> - I like this image because I think it represents well all the different influences and tensions that have shaped and continue to shape Montreal. The statue of one of the founders of Montreal and La Basilique Notre-Dame represent the French influence and the importance of the (particularly Catholic) church. Diametrically opposed is the Banque Canadienne Nationale tower which represents the English influence. Behind the statue can be seen three of Montreal’s earliest skyscrapers. These buildings, including the beautiful New York Life Building and the Art Deco Aldred Building, represent both other foreign influence and the city’s emphasis on the arts and incorporating art into city planning. They also show the regulation of building height compared to nearby Mont Royal. I was lucky to catch two pigeons flying which represents the abundant urban wildlife and green space of this large city. Canon 6D Mark II body, Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens, 1/1000 second, f/8, ISO 400, handheld.</td></tr></tbody></table>Some day I hope to revisit Montreal with some time for a slower and more deliberate style of photography, taking into account all that I have learned about the city. But for now, I'm very happy with my brief "photography vacation."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-37531338811353754802018-03-11T12:38:00.000-04:002018-03-11T12:38:02.423-04:00Gone Instagramming...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6uDFP_y-RI/WqVNd-nzRkI/AAAAAAAACFI/i4xwxCKqhg8ygv7kWZpEcp_0CCrYLJ0wwCLcBGAs/s1600/JuvieAnhingaBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6uDFP_y-RI/WqVNd-nzRkI/AAAAAAAACFI/i4xwxCKqhg8ygv7kWZpEcp_0CCrYLJ0wwCLcBGAs/s1600/JuvieAnhingaBW.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Snake Bird" An immature anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) takes a break from preening at the Venice Audubon Rookery in Venice, Florida.&nbsp;&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />You may have noticed I've been a bit lax in updating the blog and Facebook page recently. That's partly because I've been very busy lately, including some great photography trips, and partly because I've been focusing my social media efforts lately on jump-starting my Instagram presence.<br /><br />I realize I'm pretty late to the game here. An older model phone with no memory left, and the requirement that images be uploaded from mobile, kept me from really adopting Instagram for quite a while. In this post thought I'd give a brief rundown of what I like about using Instagram for wildlife photographers and what I don't like.<br /><br />First, let's start with what I like and how I think it differs from my blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. One major difference is organic reach. I feel like I'm reaching a lot more people (and new people) through Instagram than I have with any of the other platforms. Particularly now that Facebook is throttling how many subscribers (and non-subscribers) see your posts in order to get you to purchase more reach. More so than Twitter, I feel like the hashtags and direct mentions are helping me to reach more of an audience that is genuinely interested in my work. I feel like with my blog and Facebook I'm only reaching folks that already interact with my photography (and sometimes barely at that). I also like that Instagram puts the photography foremost. Unlike Twitter where the photograph or blog link are usually secondary to the text (and often requires an additional action from the viewer), Instagram is focused on the image and the text is secondary. Unlike Facebook, the images are featured at full size (usually) and in their best light, instead of being cropped down and requiring the user to once again click and go to another screen to view them. I feel like some of the Instagram hashtags actually have a good following of people looking for interesting images. Twitter always feels like I'm releasing sand grains into the wind or a message-in-a-bottle into the vast ocean. There is just so much noise that the chances that anyone will see and interact with my tweet are slim. I also feel like I am much better able to interact with brands and organizations that might be interested in my photography on Instagram. I've had a lot of luck getting them to respond to my photography. Finally I like that there isn't a tight limitation on the text length in the Instagram posts. They are like mini blog posts. I can say what I want to say, and still have room for relevant hashtags and mentions.<br /><br />Okay, now what I don't like about Instagram. As mentioned before, I'm not too thrilled that I can't post from my desktop. I'm not a big iPhone photographer, so almost all of my images are coming from my DSLR. The extra step to send the images from my computer to my phone is time consuming and a bit of a pain. Unfortunately, possibly more so than other social media (except maybe Twitter), there seems to be a lot of folks trying to game the system and gain followers at any cost. Lots of folks will follow you and then unfollow you once you've followed back, and/or unfollow you if you don't follow back right away. Quite frankly, I'm just not interested in these games. I want to follow folks who produce content that I'm genuinely interested in and that I want to interact with. And I want folks to follow me or like my stuff because they are genuinely interested in seeing and interacting with my work. The tit-for-tat following and liking mentality just doesn't work for me, and seems counterproductive to what should be the true goal of posting your work on social media. I'd rather have two followers that are really interested in my work, than a thousand that couldn't give a damn other than increasing their own followers and likes. Finally, I'm not sure how I feel about the posts not being presented chronologically in home stream. This has some advantages and many disadvantages.<br /><br />All this being said, I will strive to do a better job updating the blog with new (and better) content, but if you are on Instagram and you are genuinely interested in my work, please give me a follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/whimbrel_nature/" target="_blank">@whimbel_nature</a>. On my Instagram account you will see more real-time posting, more of my newest work, and more information on my ongoing projects. I won't promise to follow you back, unless you are producing content that I'm genuinely interested in and feel like I will interact with on a regular basis.Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-69101729726068722962018-01-01T02:47:00.000-05:002018-01-01T10:58:52.070-05:00Favorites Of 2017It's come time for my traditional countdown of my favorite twelve images from the previous year. 2017 was a good year for photography, despite my third (and final) year of wood thrush field work taking up much of my time between the end of April and the beginning of October. As usual, there were some tough choices to be made to narrow it down to just twelve images. Here are my favorites from this year, in no particular order.<br /><br />1. <b><i>"Placid Lake, Turbulent Skies"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04LGmRKq2Nw/WknB2BTXlhI/AAAAAAAAB9U/c3zbkBrNeS8PSj8z7wuB7uf71mwywD-YQCLcBGAs/s1600/PlacidLakeTurbulentSkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04LGmRKq2Nw/WknB2BTXlhI/AAAAAAAAB9U/c3zbkBrNeS8PSj8z7wuB7uf71mwywD-YQCLcBGAs/s1600/PlacidLakeTurbulentSkies.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />This image was taken near the top of Whiteface Mountain looking down towards Lake Placid during peak foliage at the beginning of October. At the end of our annual camera club trip to the Adirondacks, a group of us decided to take the drive to the top of Whiteface. Despite iffy weather and a small traffic jam at the entrance, our perseverance paid off more than we could know. At the top we were treated to windy and frigid conditions, but also incredible views of the surrounding foliage and mountains with light beams breaking through the stormy cloud cover everywhere. This image is a panoramic composed of seven vertical images taken with my 70-300mm lens set at 70mm. Each of those images was in turn created from a 32-bit HDR made in Lightroom from three identically composed images shot at 1 stop increments. I turned off Auto-Tone and processed the 32-bit images manually. All images were shot at <i>f</i>/16. Obviously to pull this off, all images were shot on a tripod in quick succession.<br /><br />2. <b><i>"Gaping Gator"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bS0BSvTQjrg/WknGjOUPdvI/AAAAAAAAB9g/Rw7U-ErKMKkBVmzbqoZ49y0e_ia5GTCKwCLcBGAs/s1600/GapingGator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bS0BSvTQjrg/WknGjOUPdvI/AAAAAAAAB9g/Rw7U-ErKMKkBVmzbqoZ49y0e_ia5GTCKwCLcBGAs/s1600/GapingGator.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />I encountered this relatively small alligator sunning itself along the dike at the Audubon Swamp Garden in Magnolia Plantations and Gardens near Charleston, SC. The behavior depicted is called "gaping" and is likely a thermoregulatory behavior. The alligator rests with its mouth open and often the buccal pouch extended. This individual was nicely backlit; illuminating the translucent skin of the pouch. With the benefit of almost the full reach (with a 1.6x crop factor camera) of a 100-400mm zoom lens, I was able to carefully get down to eye level to photograph this individual.<br /><br />3. <b><i>"Broken Dancer No. 3"</i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkPsmTI3tck/WknKM731IRI/AAAAAAAAB90/H9kE-N1w43kD-YieErtBZugjY5r2oODSwCLcBGAs/s1600/Broken%2BDancer%2BNo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkPsmTI3tck/WknKM731IRI/AAAAAAAAB90/H9kE-N1w43kD-YieErtBZugjY5r2oODSwCLcBGAs/s1600/Broken%2BDancer%2BNo3.jpg" /></a></div>2017 was a great year for my night photography, although mostly with less natural subjects. One of my favorite locations for night photography this year was Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. This cemetery has a large collection of historic, elaborate, and artistic mausoleums and monuments. Although I captured a few images here that made it to the candidates for favorite of 2017, this image is far and away my favorite of the bunch. This image was light painted with the help of my friend Peter Nagy. I'm photographing with my tripod fully spread, lying on my belly on the ground with my Tokina 11-16mm lens. There is a powerful pink/magenta colored light pointed at the front of the statue. I'm using a spotlight from the ground to light the writing on the block and fill in some of the detail on the side of the dancer and remove some of the color cast on the statue. Peter is holding a small spotlight on the hands to emphasize the hands and remove some of the color cast from that area as well. Irene Castle and her husband were a famous dancing couple and when he died during a wartime training accident, she had this statue commissioned for his marker.<br /><br />4.<b><i> "Love Bugs"</i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cFeZANnkWQE/WknRBagBy0I/AAAAAAAAB-E/LF37WaJKGZ0x1uHdPdqm5Zp0nY2GY5DlACLcBGAs/s1600/LoveBugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cFeZANnkWQE/WknRBagBy0I/AAAAAAAAB-E/LF37WaJKGZ0x1uHdPdqm5Zp0nY2GY5DlACLcBGAs/s1600/LoveBugs.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I captured this macro image late one evening in July near Swan Lake in Rockefeller State Park Preserve. I went to this patch of milkweed plants looking for macro subjects and this pair of red milkweed beetles obliged. I love the contrast between the bright red beetles and the green surroundings. The red and black coloration warn potential predators of their foul taste due to toxic cardiac glycosides obtained from the milkweed plant. In an example of Mullerian mimicry, many of the insect species feeding on milkweed have a similar red/orange with black pattern.<br /><br />5. <b><i>"Me And My Shadow"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJhpOi0XDyc/WknVMjCmpwI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/uWqG3o9x8sQDSDyfM7WpyItkqu1ipYCMQCLcBGAs/s1600/MeAndMyShadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IJhpOi0XDyc/WknVMjCmpwI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/uWqG3o9x8sQDSDyfM7WpyItkqu1ipYCMQCLcBGAs/s1600/MeAndMyShadow.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />This image was captured at Nickerson Beach Park on Long Island. I was thrilled to finally capture some images I was happy with of this beautiful and charismatic bird. This image is one of my favorites because the combination of behavior, a parent bringing food to its young, and the perfect shadow, elevate this image beyond the standard animal portrait. This individual passed close by me on foraging runs several times as I sat still and quiet on the beach front.<br /><br />6. <b><i>"Give Me Shelter"</i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLje82AkQ-4/WknXQuE25RI/AAAAAAAAB-c/nVE8r6zBQDgcBfcuiE-KUUMhE52Qu42dwCLcBGAs/s1600/GiveMeShelter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLje82AkQ-4/WknXQuE25RI/AAAAAAAAB-c/nVE8r6zBQDgcBfcuiE-KUUMhE52Qu42dwCLcBGAs/s1600/GiveMeShelter.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />While the lighting may not have been ideal, any time you catch a baby owl out and about during the daytime has to make the favorite list. This baby screech owl was waiting in this beech tree with its parents for the rest of its siblings to fledge from the nest. It was soon joined by two other baby screech owls in the same tree. Taken mid-June in Rockefeller State Park Preserve.<br /><br />7. <b><i>"Displaying Teal"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePxrgeef03U/WknZoYERB1I/AAAAAAAAB-o/UKEaL0y4mEscRBNtRaTpygNTwJhfBg3jgCLcBGAs/s1600/DisplayingTeal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ePxrgeef03U/WknZoYERB1I/AAAAAAAAB-o/UKEaL0y4mEscRBNtRaTpygNTwJhfBg3jgCLcBGAs/s1600/DisplayingTeal.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />This displaying blue-winged teal was displaying in February at the Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. I love the blend of frozen detail (particularly the eye) and blurred action in this behavior shot. Just enough detail is captured in the pale blue, white, and iridescent green wing feathers to show the structure of the colored wing patches. Because of hunting pressure, it can be hard to get good images of these ducks, so it was great to find wild ducks that were mostly habituated the hustle and bustle of the busy plantation.<br /><br />8. <b><i>"Gaea Overwhelmed"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--w47f1j2oJE/Wknbw5pARpI/AAAAAAAAB-0/kO8yIoTrDwwuGK_G_GB1DAa6pNHeDrwKACLcBGAs/s1600/GaeaOverwhelmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="696" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--w47f1j2oJE/Wknbw5pARpI/AAAAAAAAB-0/kO8yIoTrDwwuGK_G_GB1DAa6pNHeDrwKACLcBGAs/s1600/GaeaOverwhelmed.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />2017 also saw many new additions to my "Fairytales" composite series. "Gaea Overwhelmed" is one of my favorites because of its environmental message and the overall visuals. I originally conceived this image and shot the background subway image back in April. But I didn't finish getting the background image into shape and photographing and adding the figures until October. As with all the images in this series, I've tried to layer multiple meanings/interpretations and social commentaries into the fairytale story and mix in modern elements to indicate their modern relevance.<br /><br />9. <b><i>"Chorus Line"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSjL_53I2ug/Wkne6Vhfv6I/AAAAAAAAB_A/G-5KBR7MnOkpEIJrkC6uZbyM_WIzGx85gCLcBGAs/s1600/ChorusLine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SSjL_53I2ug/Wkne6Vhfv6I/AAAAAAAAB_A/G-5KBR7MnOkpEIJrkC6uZbyM_WIzGx85gCLcBGAs/s1600/ChorusLine.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />This line of white ibis was also photographed in the Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston, SC. I noticed the birds lining up on the branches of this dead tree, but then it was a matter of finding a viewpoint that wasn't obstructed by other vegetation, but allowed me to capture the linear arrangement. The overcast sky provided a nice high-key effect.<br /><br />10. <b><i>"Crested Dwarf Iris And Trail, Little Frog Mountain Wilderness"</i></b><br /><b><i><br /></i></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fl1jEx_2Lxo/WkniCRSEkDI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Jcp4pMP9TuUK6btGUek_isK0fCQTNz7gACLcBGAs/s1600/CrestedDwarfIrisAndTrail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fl1jEx_2Lxo/WkniCRSEkDI/AAAAAAAAB_M/Jcp4pMP9TuUK6btGUek_isK0fCQTNz7gACLcBGAs/s1600/CrestedDwarfIrisAndTrail.jpg" /></a></div><b><i><br /></i></b><br />During 2017 I also continued to work on my "Smallest Wilderness" project; revisiting some local wilderness as well as areas in South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This image was made just inside the Little Frog Mountain Wilderness in Cherokee National Forest just after a light rain. Crested dwarf iris are among my favorite wildflowers and I love their saturated green and purple colors.<br /><br />11. <b><i>"Spring Green"</i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BgEDF-HEyc/WknkcMoipxI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/_bUUC-GMCpk_zMzkQGLxLfTsKhl8N8lPgCLcBGAs/s1600/SpringGreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BgEDF-HEyc/WknkcMoipxI/AAAAAAAAB_Y/_bUUC-GMCpk_zMzkQGLxLfTsKhl8N8lPgCLcBGAs/s1600/SpringGreen.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />During my work on the "Smallest Wilderness" project I also visited the small but stunning Gee Creek Wilderness in Tennessee. A combination of waterfalls and wildflowers made this wilderness a joy to hike. The combination of trillium with the spring maple leaves and a katydid nymph combine to elevate this image above the "standard" wildflower close-up shot.<br /><br />12. <b><i>"Fall Ring Cycle No. 2"</i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STndFmqlZDQ/WknmTLHb_XI/AAAAAAAAB_k/a1j6xtpljtwzniygVokzijILbRgQfYznACLcBGAs/s1600/FallRingCycleNo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STndFmqlZDQ/WknmTLHb_XI/AAAAAAAAB_k/a1j6xtpljtwzniygVokzijILbRgQfYznACLcBGAs/s1600/FallRingCycleNo2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />2017 also saw the development of a new series that I'm very excited about. "The Shape Of Things" series takes elements from my nature photography and turns them into pieces of digital art that in addition to being beautiful also illustrate concepts of morphology, seasonality, cycles, and the passage of time in the natural world. This image is one of my favorites depicting the cycle of color change in foliage and the seasonality of the natural world. To see more of this series and my other composite, night, and digital fine art work, please visit my new website at&nbsp;<a href="https://whimbrelnature.myportfolio.com/work" target="_blank">https://whimbrelnature.myportfolio.com/work&nbsp;</a>.<br /><br />Happy New Year to all! Wishing you the best and lots of outdoor adventures in 2018!<br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-14500830472628790222017-12-08T14:01:00.002-05:002017-12-08T14:04:45.522-05:00Working The SubjectI'm sure I've talked about this before, but it bears repeating. Don't just settle for your first view of your subject and leave it at that. If you really want to increase your chances of making your best photograph (and develop your eye for composition along the way), you've got to work your subject. Photograph from a variety of angles, a variety of heights, zoom in or out (by lens or by foot), and experiment with different lighting, if possible. Always ask yourself what attracted you to the subject in the first place, and if your current composition is best highlighting those elements.<br /><br />I can't tell you how often I see photographers approach a subject, fire off a couple of shots at eye-level from the same angle they approached the subject, and then move quickly on to the next subject. If I find a good subject, I can work the subject for hours sometimes (particularly if it is a cooperative animal). Let me give you a real-life example.<br /><br />Recently I had the chance to photograph at Woodlawn Cemetery during a night-time tour event where they illuminate some of the famous or interesting mausoleums with colored lights. One monument that really spoke to me was the grave of Vernon and Irene Castle, famous dancers in their day. Irene had seen a small bronze sculpture of an exhausted ballet dancer folded in on herself entitled "The End Of The Day." When Vernon died in a WWI training accident, Irene had the statue recreated for the grave marker. It has a very powerful emotional impact and I knew I had to find a way to do it justice.<br /><br />The first evening I photographed the statue, the colored lights were too close to the front of the statue and thus there were harsh highlights and shadows and the Doric colonnade behind the dancer wasn't fully lit. I tried to balance it with light painting, but I was not happy with the results. For sake of brevity, I'm not including any of those images here, but I still explored the monument from a variety of angles, finding shooting up from lying on the ground at about a 45 degree angle from the front of the statue the most successful.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjWCkhpNDLA/WirV-L1FKcI/AAAAAAAAB8I/ihGR6C9XjhAhrNxLYbzNdj76tQwvVTqmQCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UjWCkhpNDLA/WirV-L1FKcI/AAAAAAAAB8I/ihGR6C9XjhAhrNxLYbzNdj76tQwvVTqmQCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer1-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Broken Dancer No. 1"</i></b> In my first series of images, I photographed the monument from straight on (parallel with the light source) and only using the colored lights with no additional light painting. I liked how some of the vegetation above the monument was highlighted and how the lit elements stood out starkly against the dark background. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm <i>f</i>/2.8 lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/8, 13 seconds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The next day I photographed with my friend Peter Nagy, and we moved the colored lights back a bit, which reduced the harsh shadows/highlights and illuminated the entire monument. In my first series of images, I liked how the lit elements stood out starkly against the black background. I also like how a small portion of the surrounding vegetation caught the light in complimentary colors and form to the monument. So I photographed straight on from in front of the statue at about statue-height, which was kneeling level (<i>"Broken Dancer No. 1"</i>).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWiIZuyDegI/WirYKMiGmaI/AAAAAAAAB8U/KxhvAwBd_ggzCmVu30Iv8hCK_WJk-FDGwCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWiIZuyDegI/WirYKMiGmaI/AAAAAAAAB8U/KxhvAwBd_ggzCmVu30Iv8hCK_WJk-FDGwCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>"Broken Dancer No. 2"</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;In my second series of images, I moved to the left of the statue to capture the rising full super moon in the same frame as the statue. I liked how the combination of the moonlight and direct side lighting from the colored lights outlined the dancer in a dramatic way. I used just a bit of light painting from an angle behind the statue and my camera to just illuminate the inscription on the block and fill in some detail on the dancer's leg. The original light painting was brighter, but I reduced the influence of that layer in Photoshop so I didn't overwhelmed the dramatic lighting of the statue and ruin the dark somber aesthetic of the overall image. An angle from just above eye-level created the most pleasing arrangement of elements.&nbsp; Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 6 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />For the next series, I knew I wanted to capture the full super moon in the frame with the monument, so I moved to the left side of the statue (<i>"Broken Dancer No. 2"</i>). Extending my tripod to full height (just over eye-level when standing on tip-toe for me) gave the most pleasing perspective and arrangement of the elements. The exposure was somewhat limited by the need to not blow out the highlights around the moon or in the center of the Doric colonnade. I decided to let detail in the moon itself blow out, as the exposure in the statue was much more important. In a separate capture, I light-painted a bit of the ground and the inscription on the base with a powerful flashlight set to it's lowest power setting. I illuminated from a low angle just behind the statue and my camera. Even then, when I combined the two frames as layers on Lighten mode in Photoshop, I greatly reduced the opacity of the light-painted layer and did some masking to preserve the impact of the dramatic lighting on the statue itself and maintain the overall aesthetic. Also I wanted to keep the viewers eyes mainly to the most important parts of the image, the dancer, the moon, and the colonnade, by keeping them the brightest parts of the image.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W56QaNodJ3M/WircwchouNI/AAAAAAAAB8g/6zN4t6Iw8s0aLlyX4i5PcC7aSPa555t6gCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W56QaNodJ3M/WircwchouNI/AAAAAAAAB8g/6zN4t6Iw8s0aLlyX4i5PcC7aSPa555t6gCLcBGAs/s1600/BrokenDancer3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>"Broken Dancer No. 3"</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;In my final series of images, I photographed from my belly on the ground with my tripod legs spread out flat. With the entire Doric colonnade lit with the colored lights this time, the composition was much more successful. It took several tries to get the light painting balanced correctly. Peter used a lower power flashlight to spot the hands during the entire exposure. I used the low power on my spotlight to illuminate the inscription and briefly sweep the dancers face to bring out a bit of detail. This image was captured in a single frame. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 5 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Finally, I moved back to the low position on my belly to the front-right of the statue that I had liked the previous evening (<i>"Broken Dancer No. 3"</i>). With the colored lights repositioned, the entire length of the Doric colonnade was illuminated and successfully fulfilled the composition I had envisioned the night before with the colonnade sweeping into the corner of the frame. I had Peter use his comparatively weaker flashlight to hold a spotlight on the hands during the entire 5 second exposure. I then used my spotlight on low power (and not for the entire duration) from towards the back of the statue to illuminate the inscription on the block and to briefly sweep across the underside of the dancers face to bring out a little detail and definition. This was all captured in one shot versus how I often light paint with different lighting captured separately and then combined in Photoshop later. Even now as I look at the image though, I think I might dodge the grass a bit more to make sure the viewers eye is definitely drawn to the statue and the colonnade versus the upper right-hand patch of grass.<br /><br />I hope this helped illustrate the concept of why and how I work a subject. This applies just as much to my nature photography as it does to my night photography. This just happened to be the most recent example I had at hand. I think my favorite image is still&nbsp;<i>"No. 3"</i>, which is yours and why?<br /><br />If you like my night photography, be sure to check out the <b><i>"Night Works"</i></b> gallery on my new website at <a href="http://digitalart.bestnatureimages.com/">http://digitalart.bestnatureimages.com</a>.<br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-51999346566125787072017-11-10T00:44:00.001-05:002017-11-10T00:44:21.490-05:00Night Photography<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq2U1ucTx1Y/WgUj1L_vDDI/AAAAAAAAB5o/x4AuWtUpHgYMiRv8JZRTnMcZzm-RzKnIwCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnHarbeck-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq2U1ucTx1Y/WgUj1L_vDDI/AAAAAAAAB5o/x4AuWtUpHgYMiRv8JZRTnMcZzm-RzKnIwCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnHarbeck-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Monumental Death"</i></b>-&nbsp; Light painting of the Harbeck Mausoleum on the grounds of the historic Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx, New York. Harbeck is one of the largest and most ornate mausoleums on the grounds. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm <i>f</i>/2.8 lens, ISO 200, <i>f</i>/11, 30 seconds. As usual with my light painting, this image is built up from several separately light painted images, allowing me finer control over the final image and the ability to produce several different interpretations from one relatively short session.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Those who follow the blog, or my work in general, will know that in addition to all things nature, I have a passion for night photography. I love combining nature and night photography, but I'm also not adverse to photographing more "human" subjects at night, particularly with light painting techniques. In the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to get out with members of my camera club and do (and teach) some more architectural-focused night photography.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SMPuIP1tzZU/WgUn6BAYxuI/AAAAAAAAB50/GdSkQnqEikovTEqfrlVL7uqtRBlScM3hQCLcBGAs/s1600/HitchcockChurch-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SMPuIP1tzZU/WgUn6BAYxuI/AAAAAAAAB50/GdSkQnqEikovTEqfrlVL7uqtRBlScM3hQCLcBGAs/s1600/HitchcockChurch-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Hitchcock Church"</i></b>- This architecturally interesting Presbyterian church in Scarsdale, NY was the site of a night photography workshop session for my camera club. After the instruction was over, I just couldn't resist taking some images for myself. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm <i>f</i>/2.8 lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/8, 2.5 seconds. This exposure uses only ambient light.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I thought I'd share with you a few of my favorite images from those outings. A few of the images are from Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, NY. This was the site of the "hands-on" portion of a night photography workshop run by my friend Peter Nagy, which I assisted with. The rest of the images are from Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx, during a club night photography field trip also organized by Peter.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTjBp_1xOMA/WgUsIAv2zyI/AAAAAAAAB6A/J5u2L-9p6HcwQukGGiJmivXzCJ4rQYExgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnMoonlightRepose-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xTjBp_1xOMA/WgUsIAv2zyI/AAAAAAAAB6A/J5u2L-9p6HcwQukGGiJmivXzCJ4rQYExgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnMoonlightRepose-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Moonlight Repose"</i></b>- A small mausoleum with a beautifully ornate door nestles under trees backlit by the full moon. The mausoleum and trees were painted with a flashlight. The blurring in the trees is due to fairly strong winds that evening, but I kind of liked the effect in this case. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm <i>f</i>/2.8 lens, ISO 200, <i>f</i>/16, 30 seconds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Woodlawn Cemetery is a night photographer's wonderland. Full of fascinating and historical mausoleums and grave markers. We were photographing for close to five hours, yet I barely scratched the surface of the available subjects. I can't wait to get back and do more.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2A80_beJos8/WgUuqNKIw7I/AAAAAAAAB6M/s53_66sLUVAU04hEtiT48o-eH1AeSTlVgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnIlluminationWithin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2A80_beJos8/WgUuqNKIw7I/AAAAAAAAB6M/s53_66sLUVAU04hEtiT48o-eH1AeSTlVgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnIlluminationWithin-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Illumination Within"</i></b>- Many of the mausoleums at Woodlawn include gorgeous panes of stained glass, such as this one which was opened for our group. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 200,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 30 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Often my night photography inspires other creative endeavors. In the example below, an image of the Hitchcock Church door inspired and became the background for a new image in my "Fairytales" series.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlTSf8xo2S0/WgUx4-_GqII/AAAAAAAAB6Y/2_PEA1h9WcMkFpY80-m6lP82g2G1duAkQCLcBGAs/s1600/ForbiddenDoorBackground-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jlTSf8xo2S0/WgUx4-_GqII/AAAAAAAAB6Y/2_PEA1h9WcMkFpY80-m6lP82g2G1duAkQCLcBGAs/s1600/ForbiddenDoorBackground-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Hitchcock Church Door"</i></b>- This image of the church door, taken with ambient light, is a panorama composed from two vertically-overlapped horizontal images. I liked how pointing up and down with the wide-angle lens exacerbated the curvature distortion from the&nbsp; ultra wide-angle. It has the intimate feel of a fish-eye lens. After converting to black and white, this image inspired the creation of a new image in my "Fairytales" series, seen below. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 4 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocOJ_qLfitU/WgUzANjO1HI/AAAAAAAAB6g/I0tiYwYNDdk9PYypjtq_3bzZTSY7FH7wgCLcBGAs/s1600/ForbiddenDoor-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ocOJ_qLfitU/WgUzANjO1HI/AAAAAAAAB6g/I0tiYwYNDdk9PYypjtq_3bzZTSY7FH7wgCLcBGAs/s1600/ForbiddenDoor-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Forbidden Door"</i></b>- Inspired by the image above, this image was additionally inspired by the "Bluebeard" fairytale. The model, the blood, the locking mechanisms, the keyhole, and the locking board were all photographed from separate locations and composited in.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />When I'm light painting a subject, I like to take multiple exposures which are then combined later with Lighten Mode in Photoshop. This has several benefits. The first is that it allows shorter exposures, which helps keep the sensor from heating up and therefore cuts down on long exposure noise. Secondly, and more importantly, it allows me much more fine control of the light on the subject. Finally, by lighting separate pieces, separately, I have a lot more easy control over the look of the final image and can even produce several versions with different moods or emphasis, all from one relatively short light painting session.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMaAeMIU4h8/WgU3iodd0ZI/AAAAAAAAB6s/b2X50PaiWMAKSPs_J8-8AnmtwIjZbTwQACLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnEverard-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fMaAeMIU4h8/WgU3iodd0ZI/AAAAAAAAB6s/b2X50PaiWMAKSPs_J8-8AnmtwIjZbTwQACLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnEverard-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Small But Beautiful"</i></b>- While it is a rather compact mausoleum compared to some others in the cemetery, the Everard mausoleum is no less ornate in its structure and use of stained glass.&nbsp; I took three exposures of this mausoleum. In one, I just shone light through the stained glass at the back. In the two others I light painted the front from the left side and the right side. The right side light painting was sufficient and I liked the shadows and detail much better than in the left side exposure. So I only used two images, combined on Lighten Mode in Photoshop to create this image. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 200,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 30 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />As mentioned, Woodlawn includes some historic burial sites, including the fascinating tomb of F.W. Woolworth.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3YwV0yTQKkk/WgU5sOa5OXI/AAAAAAAAB64/GhS5szORjO0IpEclJzvyVbrdnr7J-BiEgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnWoolworth-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3YwV0yTQKkk/WgU5sOa5OXI/AAAAAAAAB64/GhS5szORjO0IpEclJzvyVbrdnr7J-BiEgCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnWoolworth-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Five And Dime Pharaoh"</i></b>- F.W. Woolworth is buried in an Egyptian-style mausoleum guarded by two beautiful sphinxes. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 200,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 30 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Hope you enjoyed the images. If you are a photographer, get out and try some night photography and light painting. You might just find yourself hooked!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FffWzUJIHrU/WgU7XSgVoMI/AAAAAAAAB7E/DuOmYEy1VekkcVDuCrHNFesaZ5slcOq4wCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnPenney-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FffWzUJIHrU/WgU7XSgVoMI/AAAAAAAAB7E/DuOmYEy1VekkcVDuCrHNFesaZ5slcOq4wCLcBGAs/s1600/WoodlawnPenney-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Grecian"</i></b>- A closer view of the ornate door on the Penney mausoleum. It's fascinating how many of the older mausoleums are influenced by ancient and classical art, the resident's "greatness" presumably amplified by the connection with great cultures and empires. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8 lens, ISO 200,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 30 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-60666716638726681212017-10-14T18:43:00.001-04:002017-10-14T18:45:48.111-04:00Impressions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUrg0jeGmeM/WeKQ1kbcypI/AAAAAAAAB4A/xkc6zzJl2wErk4gF-oAvA8kiZc8MiAITQCLcBGAs/s1600/PuddleBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUrg0jeGmeM/WeKQ1kbcypI/AAAAAAAAB4A/xkc6zzJl2wErk4gF-oAvA8kiZc8MiAITQCLcBGAs/s1600/PuddleBlog.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Puddle"-</i></b> An aspen leaf floats on a puddle in the parking area next to Chapel Pond along Route 73. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400, <i>f</i>/16, 0.4 seconds.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />As I mentioned in my previous post, I wanted to share with you some images I made during my last trip to the Adirondacks, and over the last few years, that take a more impressionistic view of the Fall scenery. All of these images were created either using camera motion with a slow shutter speed or by photographing reflections in moving water (with and without slow shutter speed).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwYQJ4Et2M8EaIN-hhXZ5M9acJo3IIieiAHLW11NjC4VvSJytUGXv0rVbLV9QDPn-i1GWmhnxNlXwTMRJzH3w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0' /></div><br /><br />As I was updating my Creative Cloud apps, I noticed this new thing called Adobe Spark. I thought I'd give it a try. This video was created using Spark and it was very easy to create a pretty professional looking/sounding video. While there may be times that I want a little more control, this certainly saved me lots of time versus using Premiere Pro and scouring the interwebs for Creative Commons music that fit the mood. They had a great music selection for inclusion with the video. I'll definitely be playing with Spark some more to see what it can do.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pcevtNl-JKQ/WeKSGb6fI4I/AAAAAAAAB4E/AgJ4THx_-4kgUGk1Y5_M6RqNL9wgqxQkwCLcBGAs/s1600/MonetsFallBlog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pcevtNl-JKQ/WeKSGb6fI4I/AAAAAAAAB4E/AgJ4THx_-4kgUGk1Y5_M6RqNL9wgqxQkwCLcBGAs/s1600/MonetsFallBlog.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Monet's Fall"- Birch, Red Maple, and Aspen blur together to create an impressionistic canvas capturing the color and textures of Fall. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 200,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 2 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Blogger might have lost a bit of quality in the compression, so feel free to check out the original version here: <a href="https://spark.adobe.com/video/GJlKKefTRBhg5" target="_blank">https://spark.adobe.com/video/GJlKKefTRBhg5&nbsp;</a><br /><br />Thanks for watching!Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-29773918556351742002017-10-12T11:39:00.001-04:002017-10-12T11:39:19.169-04:00Light And Color<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhNjonaM3Mw/Wd9r2vdzW-I/AAAAAAAAB2w/fKPGk3yjiUkeXU6leqlKN15tYEvrF7GlgCLcBGAs/s1600/PlacidLakeTurbulentSkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhNjonaM3Mw/Wd9r2vdzW-I/AAAAAAAAB2w/fKPGk3yjiUkeXU6leqlKN15tYEvrF7GlgCLcBGAs/s1600/PlacidLakeTurbulentSkies.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Placid Lake, Turbulent Skies"</i></b>- A small group ventured to the top of Whiteface Mountain and were rewarded stunning light and gorgeous foliage, but also 20-50 mph winds with temperatures in the 50s. To capture this image I used my 70-300mm zoom set at 70mm. This is a panorama composed from seven vertically-oriented frames. I bracketed each of the frames at&nbsp;+/- one stop and combined each individual frame into a 32 bit image using the HDR feature in Lightroom, then adjusted accordingly to capture the full dynamic range of the scene. Then I merged the seven HDR frames into the final panorama and completed global adjustments. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/16.</span><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Just recently returned from a fabulous fall weekend in the Adirondacks with members of the <a href="http://cccw.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=0&amp;club_id=893650&amp;sl=744356222" target="_blank">Color Camera Club of Westchester</a>. We had some great foliage and good, to spectacular, photography weather for much of the weekend. It's always fun to get together with a bunch of other photographers, in such a beautiful location.&nbsp; I thought I'd share a few of my favorite images from the long weekend.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXZFnBFHgyI/Wd9xzuVnfFI/AAAAAAAAB3A/4G09LXc6pbQbtJ7axMqWame60fTbwPlPACLcBGAs/s1600/SolidAndFluid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kXZFnBFHgyI/Wd9xzuVnfFI/AAAAAAAAB3A/4G09LXc6pbQbtJ7axMqWame60fTbwPlPACLcBGAs/s1600/SolidAndFluid.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Solid And Fluid"</i></b>- I used a slow shutter speed and combining several frames in Photoshop to capture the flow of bubbles from upstream rapids inside the chasm. I love the way the flowing water contrasts with the solid, immobile, rock walls. Although it is the rock that eventually gives way to the force of the water over geologic time. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/22, 8 sec.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We had a group trip to Ausable Chasm, which is somewhere I normally would not go on my own, being more of a wild photographer. The chasm was spectacular, although the local foliage wasn't that strong. On the way back to Schroon Lake, we drove through part of Lake Placid and along Route 73, which had peak foliage.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkrZ6LBK3ac/Wd-G7bltDkI/AAAAAAAAB3U/OSHi0CbXGRo9BbUdta9zF56Vzm7m-C-MgCLcBGAs/s1600/PeakFall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkrZ6LBK3ac/Wd-G7bltDkI/AAAAAAAAB3U/OSHi0CbXGRo9BbUdta9zF56Vzm7m-C-MgCLcBGAs/s1600/PeakFall.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Peak Fall"</i></b>- Peak foliage graces the former site of the Old Keene Barn with the foothills of the High Peaks area in the background. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/16, 1/5 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><br />In my next post, I hope to share a collection of impressionistic photographs I've made of fall in the Adirondacks over the last couple of years.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdFSaqwnW1I/Wd-JWU_Zy9I/AAAAAAAAB3g/Avf6UUCFKqMjube9-X6jYugGYC6XCgihwCLcBGAs/s1600/Chasm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YdFSaqwnW1I/Wd-JWU_Zy9I/AAAAAAAAB3g/Avf6UUCFKqMjube9-X6jYugGYC6XCgihwCLcBGAs/s1600/Chasm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Chasm"</i></b>- Panoramic image of the Ausable River canyon composed from four horizontal frames. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/16, 1 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />In the meantime, get out and enjoy the season!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lf0dKRJqbHs/Wd-K8idIOUI/AAAAAAAAB3s/m9HJc_BXe0IaVSGYj8_x__4BRKv1S7xyQCLcBGAs/s1600/UnderStormySkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lf0dKRJqbHs/Wd-K8idIOUI/AAAAAAAAB3s/m9HJc_BXe0IaVSGYj8_x__4BRKv1S7xyQCLcBGAs/s1600/UnderStormySkies.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Under Stormy Skies"</i></b>- Lake Placid from the slopes of Whiteface Mountain under stormy skies. Canon 7D, Tokina 11-16mm <i>f</i>/2.8<span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">/16, 1/125 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-662905981883983742017-09-14T11:07:00.003-04:002017-09-14T11:07:31.058-04:00The Secret Lives Of Peeps<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNtDNC5C01Q/WblpYAdFIGI/AAAAAAAAByM/LdPsiFGJAcIfupG__FuiIXCG7XF_7KA6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Ruffled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aNtDNC5C01Q/WblpYAdFIGI/AAAAAAAAByM/LdPsiFGJAcIfupG__FuiIXCG7XF_7KA6QCLcBGAs/s1600/Ruffled.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>"Ruffled"</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;A semipalmated sandpiper looking disheveled after shaking out its plumage. It's mottled appearance of light grey and darker feathers, plus pointy feathers without buffy edges indicates that this individual is an adult (AHY) bird and not a young bird from this year. The wear on the old plumage and molt makes the adults look distinctly shabby compared to the new, bright, rounded, and neatly bordered plumage of young birds. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400, <i>f</i>/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />No, not the marshmallow ones, that's a blog entry for another time. This post focuses on the biology and behavior of the small <i>Calidris</i> sandpipers (collectively known as "peeps") and how best to observe them. This post and the accompanying images were inspired by a recent field trip I led to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY with some great folks from the Color Camera Club of Westchester.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3h2-_F31No/WbnC2WuMdDI/AAAAAAAAByg/TpmSXVwDBCgIjVzQFwUzFoRvzCvYiEl6ACLcBGAs/s1600/QuietMoment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e3h2-_F31No/WbnC2WuMdDI/AAAAAAAAByg/TpmSXVwDBCgIjVzQFwUzFoRvzCvYiEl6ACLcBGAs/s1600/QuietMoment.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Quiet Moment"</i></b> Compare this juvenile (HY) semipalmated sandpiper to the adult pictured above. Notice that there are no obvious molt patterns with distinctly darker fresh feathers next to faded older ones. Notice that each feather on the back is nicely rounded instead of pointed and worn to the shaft on the tips. Also notice that each feather is clearly edged in buff or white. Overall the appearance is crisp, clean, and scaly. If you zoom in, in this image you can also see the fine serrations on the inside of the slightly open bill. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>Aging Peeps On Fall Migration</b><br /><br />These techniques also work for many other species of shorebirds as well. First, take in the overall appearance. Juvenile shorebirds in the fall look clean, crisp, generally more colorful, and almost "scaly" in appearance. Adults tend to look slightly shabby, faded, and lack the "scaly" appearance. Next look for molt patterns. On a juvenile feathers will vary with the plumage pattern, but feathers in the same area/set will look roughly the same in color, tone, and brightness. In adult birds you will see feathers that are obviously newer (different, often darker or lighter color and less worn), next to older ones. Then look at the feathers themselves, are they rounded and fresh looking (juvenile, hatch year or HY bird), or distinctly pointed and often worn down to the shaft at the tip (adult, after hatch year, or AHY). Finally are the outer edges of the feathers outlined with a pale buff or white, giving the above mentioned "scaly" appearance on the back? This is an indication of a juvenile bird. In adult feathers this time of year, most of this edging has worn off or is absent.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdlBjuBgg98/WbnoVQqUWFI/AAAAAAAAByw/aVIWLPdcU3sryipF6o9OvLMnpvGvpxZ6QCLcBGAs/s1600/ConsistencyAndVariation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdlBjuBgg98/WbnoVQqUWFI/AAAAAAAAByw/aVIWLPdcU3sryipF6o9OvLMnpvGvpxZ6QCLcBGAs/s1600/ConsistencyAndVariation.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Consistency And Variation"</i></b> Despite overall consistency in size, plumage pattern, and bill compared to the differences between peep species, there can be quite a bit of variation in semipalmated sandpipers (<i>Calidris pusilla</i>) in color, bill length, and body size. Notice in these two juvenile (HY) individuals that the bird on the right is darker, more brownish, and has a bit more rufous in the edges of the upper scapular feathers. Birds can vary between grayish, golden, to dark brown. Bill lengths and the amount of slight droop at the tip can also vary between individuals. This variation can sometimes be a source of confusion with distinguishing from other peeps such as western sandpiper (<i>Calidris mauri</i>). Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>Species</b><br /><br />Depending on the habitat and timing, but certainly the case at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in NY where these images were taken, semipalmated sandpipers (<i>Calidris pusilla</i>) will probably be the most abundant peep species during migration in many east coast locations. Often birders have a difficult time picking out other peep species; and when you are dealing with flocks of hundreds of constantly shifting birds, it can definitely be a challenge. Here are a few tips for picking out other species among the numerous "semis".<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CWHw8Pt8UM/WbnwY0o4eyI/AAAAAAAABzA/LmxJA4pFNPEemg6iCDoh1NIOqF6InV20QCLcBGAs/s1600/ShakeItOff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6CWHw8Pt8UM/WbnwY0o4eyI/AAAAAAAABzA/LmxJA4pFNPEemg6iCDoh1NIOqF6InV20QCLcBGAs/s1600/ShakeItOff.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Shake It Off"</i></b> A white-rumped sandpiper (<i>Calidris fuscicollis</i>) shakes water off its body after bathing. In the field, this peep is noticeably larger than the other three common peeps in this habitat. Also note the elongated appearance and when folded the wing tips will extend beyond the tail. The distinct white supercilium is also a good field mark. When visible, the orange/red base of the lower mandible and the completely white rump (visible when flying or preening/bathing) are diagnostic. For a challenge, can you age this bird using the skills you learned above? Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Overall shape and size can be good indicators that something is worth a closer look. Western sandpipers (<i>Calidris mauri</i>) average slightly larger, chunkier, and front heavy than semipalmated, while least sandpipers (<i>Calidris minutilla</i>) average slightly smaller and lighter. White-rumped sandpipers (<i>Calidris fuscicollis</i>) are quite noticeably larger than all these peeps and the wings extend beyond the tail giving the bird a distinct sleek, elongated look when compared to other nearby peeps.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8IRjPyrciyI/Wbn4Zh6uZuI/AAAAAAAABzQ/NpNVUIbZNOE0XpvJslR2vL27Z4HA46qcACLcBGAs/s1600/PaleReflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8IRjPyrciyI/Wbn4Zh6uZuI/AAAAAAAABzQ/NpNVUIbZNOE0XpvJslR2vL27Z4HA46qcACLcBGAs/s1600/PaleReflection.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Pale Reflection"</i></b> A western sandpiper (<i>Calidris mauri</i>) forages in the shallows. Notice the overall paler, grayer appearance and front heavy bearing. Also the bright rufous edged upper scapulars (particularly contrasting with the overall paler appearance) are a strong indicator of a western. Finally, notice the the longer bill with a noticeable droop near the tip. Full disclosure, this image was made in September of 2014 at Jamaica Bay, as I didn't capture any images of western sandpipers on my most recent trip. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/1000 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Overall color can be another great indicator. Western sandpipers tend to molt earlier than other peeps and by September are often in much paler, grayer non-breeding plumage. Also the bright rufous edges to the upper scapulars frequently stand out as a distinct color patch. Least sandpipers tend to be a much richer, and in juveniles more overall rufous, brown than the other peeps. An additional diagnostic color cue is that least sandpipers are the only peeps with yellow legs (but be careful of mud encrusted legs).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u31d-nPnFNM/Wbn7sXA5eNI/AAAAAAAABzc/sTLoyygLg9sRCKBMDcMC2dMMbfP5nbaWQCLcBGAs/s1600/LeastButNotLast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u31d-nPnFNM/Wbn7sXA5eNI/AAAAAAAABzc/sTLoyygLg9sRCKBMDcMC2dMMbfP5nbaWQCLcBGAs/s1600/LeastButNotLast.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Least, But Not Last"</i></b> The least sandpiper (<i>Calidris minutilla</i>) is our smallest common peep. Note the deeper brown color with more rufous, the thin drooped bill, and diagnostic yellow legs. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Finally, pay attention to bill size and shape. This can be fairly variable in semipalmated and there is some overlap with western, but taken in conjunction with other features, this characteristic can be important for positive ID. Western sandpipers have generally longer bills that are more tapered and drooped at the tip. Semipalmated bills tend to be shorter, straighter, and more blunt in comparison. Least sandpiper has a thinner, more tapered bill, with a very distinct, but small, overall droop. White-rumped sandpipers have a wide base that tapers significantly towards the tip, also with a distinct droop.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Xk9NENnBUU/WbnCsDW6S4I/AAAAAAAAByk/kjZ0nJsaPdA9sQ4TFbxO4EQkU1kgzSTjACEwYBhgL/s1600/StepLightly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Xk9NENnBUU/WbnCsDW6S4I/AAAAAAAAByk/kjZ0nJsaPdA9sQ4TFbxO4EQkU1kgzSTjACEwYBhgL/s1600/StepLightly.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Step Lively"</i></b> A juvenile semipalmated sandpiper runs towards me during an active foraging session after landing. You can actually see the slight webbing at the base of the toes that resulted in the name "semipalmated". Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>Behavior</b><br /><br />Migrating in flocks, peeps make for great behavior watching. One of the main behaviors you'll notice is foraging. Take some time to watch the different species of peeps and individuals. Do certain species or individuals spend more time probing in the water or on land? Do they mostly utilize the wet mud flats near the edges of the water, or farther upland where the mud is dryer or dominated by vegetation. Do they do more gleaning or probing in the mud?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBlCMw7ZEbg/WboA44PgDGI/AAAAAAAABzw/m0Z84--6ces4JFznyu52mRlJ4nUaAj4gACEwYBhgL/s1600/Mouthful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XBlCMw7ZEbg/WboA44PgDGI/AAAAAAAABzw/m0Z84--6ces4JFznyu52mRlJ4nUaAj4gACEwYBhgL/s1600/Mouthful.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>"Mouthful"</i></b><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;A semipalmated sandpiper gobbles down a mouthful of invertebrate it gleaned from the surface of the mud and grass. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div>Other behaviors to look for include preening and bathing, predator detection and avoidance, as well as small scale territorial squabbles (usually over feeding space or prime resting areas).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIxsDg3GNc8/WboChA_suUI/AAAAAAAABz4/DAw8TR27T5oATBjDKpkfHl2Ipepx3bQywCLcBGAs/s1600/MakingPretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kIxsDg3GNc8/WboChA_suUI/AAAAAAAABz4/DAw8TR27T5oATBjDKpkfHl2Ipepx3bQywCLcBGAs/s1600/MakingPretty.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Making Pretty"</i></b> A peep preens its feathers as it rests on a small island in East Pond of Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. <b>Pop quiz: which species and what age?</b> Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />And if your entire flock suddenly flushes through no action of your own or other nearby humans, keep your eyes open.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ju_WaLNhgk/WboDdiHUQcI/AAAAAAAAB0A/wAOcxurn64YgrMdwB11Mf-xkdU0H1GKmwCLcBGAs/s1600/WaryOfTheSkies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Ju_WaLNhgk/WboDdiHUQcI/AAAAAAAAB0A/wAOcxurn64YgrMdwB11Mf-xkdU0H1GKmwCLcBGAs/s1600/WaryOfTheSkies.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Wary Of The Skies"</i></b> A juvenile semipalmated sandpiper scans the skies for aerial predators. If you watch a flock of resting peeps they will frequently make these scans for predators, particularly if the movement or shadow of a larger bird flying over makes them wary. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />You might just be treated to the sight of a hunting peregrine falcon.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygwRXZRkzxI/WboEb1z4NsI/AAAAAAAAB0I/row6exZsbhYZnSEa8efBygm5O1khA-3SACLcBGAs/s1600/Liftoff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ygwRXZRkzxI/WboEb1z4NsI/AAAAAAAAB0I/row6exZsbhYZnSEa8efBygm5O1khA-3SACLcBGAs/s1600/Liftoff.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Liftoff!"</i></b> A semipalmated sandpiper flies from the water to the shore. If your entire flock of shorebirds flushes and it wasn't something you did, keep an eye out for aerial predators like the peregrine falcon. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Other Species</b><br /><b><br /></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DywVbgMBBw8/WboGuNaHEPI/AAAAAAAAB0U/dXQtChwi5s8haOZ0QrtmmgrwLpWNxqtxACLcBGAs/s1600/OpenWideSemiPlov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DywVbgMBBw8/WboGuNaHEPI/AAAAAAAAB0U/dXQtChwi5s8haOZ0QrtmmgrwLpWNxqtxACLcBGAs/s1600/OpenWideSemiPlov.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Open Wide"</i></b> Semipalmated plovers (<i>Charadrius semipalmatus</i>) are often found among or nearby flocks of peeps. I think this individual was yawning or stretching. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><b><br /></b>When out observing peeps, don't forget to look around for other shorebird species. Often species like the semipalmated plover (<i>Charadrius semipalmatus</i>) will be mixed in with the peeps. Nearby, but usually not part of the peep flock, you might see larger shorebird species like on of the yellowlegs or the stilt sandpiper (<i>Calidris himantopus</i>).<br /><b><br /></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Id88C1G6lo/WboHY9ZwNrI/AAAAAAAAB0c/BnUMDtYkLdA5GqY7NFtQnI0UEvf82XhXQCLcBGAs/s1600/EyeOnTheSky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Id88C1G6lo/WboHY9ZwNrI/AAAAAAAAB0c/BnUMDtYkLdA5GqY7NFtQnI0UEvf82XhXQCLcBGAs/s1600/EyeOnTheSky.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Eye On The Sky"</i></b> Peeps are not the only ones that periodically scan for aerial predators. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Go Slow, Stay Low: Observing Peeps And Other Shorebirds</b><br /><br />One of the best ways to observe shorebirds is from a distance with a spotting scope. This is the best way to ensure that you are not unduly disturbing the birds. Even then, wearing muted natural colors that blend into the environment (not white), moving very slowly, and staying low as your body and viewing conditions will allow, will keep your actions from disturbing the birds.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUVTBMuL4uY/WbqQdMGsmEI/AAAAAAAAB0s/IzBLRwnSEVY-wS7ts1LhUEpaxV49wMutgCLcBGAs/s1600/CloseUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EUVTBMuL4uY/WbqQdMGsmEI/AAAAAAAAB0s/IzBLRwnSEVY-wS7ts1LhUEpaxV49wMutgCLcBGAs/s1600/CloseUp.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Close-Up"</i></b> While not my best composition, I include this image of a foraging semipalmated sandpiper to show how close birds can get if you follow the tips described here. I also like how you can really see the feather detail in this image. This bird and several others actually came even closer, but they came so close (probably within a foot) I could no longer maintain focus without reaching up and switching my lens to "macro" mode, which I didn't want to do for fear of startling them. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />If you need to get closer for photography or you just want to experience the magic of feeling part of the flock and observing behavior on a personal level, then you'll need to take extra care. I need to state explicitly at this point that you should avoid flushing shorebird flocks as much as possible (sometimes trail paths or beach activity make that impractical/impossible). These birds have a limited amount of time to refuel for their long journeys south and time spent flushing back and forth is an additional expenditure of energy on top of the time lost feeding. Never chase birds back and forth, if you inadvertently flush them, back off and accept that the flock might be too sensitive to approach. It is important to note that I didn't flush any of these birds while taking these images, in fact, as I worked, additional birds joined the original flock. Eventually I was practically surrounded by birds on all sides.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2m9u77vEc0A/WbqVHKxC_2I/AAAAAAAAB04/-edS792s2dI0uoSM956TbqhoUVM9FBN9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PloverPortrait2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2m9u77vEc0A/WbqVHKxC_2I/AAAAAAAAB04/-edS792s2dI0uoSM956TbqhoUVM9FBN9QCLcBGAs/s1600/PloverPortrait2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Plover Portrait"</i></b> This semipalmated plover spent time wandering all over the small island where I was photographing. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The best strategy is to find a place that seems to be productive and then sit and wait until the birds come to you. Either arrive before first light, or approach an area just after the birds have been flushed by a predator or other human activity. Again, while camouflage/ghillie suits are helpful, it is not necessary, but natural, muted colors are a must. &nbsp;Get as low as possible. In fact, your best results will be if you lay down. With the possible exception of beach goers, shorebirds are not used to seeing humans lying down and don't perceive them as a threat in that position. This has the added benefit of giving you an eye-level perspective, instead of looking down on the birds. Any movements and readjustments should be done deliberately, glacially slow. Try to avoid direct eye contact with your subject, particularly while moving, as that is perceived as more threatening. Either look through your camera or out of the sides of your eyes.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0gbKP6vsLI/WbqYFmzU0tI/AAAAAAAAB1I/qqK4vo56D2oWEoXDUgzd5xPV1n1LHIM3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PaleKnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H0gbKP6vsLI/WbqYFmzU0tI/AAAAAAAAB1I/qqK4vo56D2oWEoXDUgzd5xPV1n1LHIM3QCLcBGAs/s1600/PaleKnight.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Pale Knight"</i></b> A particularly pale (and longer beaked) specimen of a semipalmated sandpiper strikes a pose while foraging nearby. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/1250 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br /><br />If you must approach a flock, then there are several techniques that can help. Watch the birds carefully (but not directly, see above) and at the first sign of agitation, stop all movement and don't resume until the birds have gone back to normal activity. Signs of agitation can include birds becoming alert from resting postures, birds looking directly at you, birds alarm calling, birds moving away, and birds with a hunched posture indicative that they are readying to take flight. Avoid direct eye contact as you move, in fact try to look at the ground or off to the side. Move exceedingly slow with frequent pauses to give the birds a chance to adjust and to gauge their reactions. It is also often helpful to approach from an indirect route, either zig-zagging to your final destination or heading towards a goal off to the side before shifting into your final position. Stay very low. Inch on your belly if possible. If not, crawl, kneel, or hunch over.<br /><br />Patience is key. It may take a while for birds to fully accept your presence, but soon they might start acting as if you aren't even there or are part of the environment. With this birds will start moving towards and in front of you and you'll have unprecedented access to details of plumage and behavior. It can be a truly magical experience for those with enough patience, and the will to tolerate wet ground, insects, sun, and uncomfortable positions.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8c6eXTLhSU/WbqZ2SQ7mBI/AAAAAAAAB1U/qEmDnso457w-za4mSol0phjuGQpN-n0IwCLcBGAs/s1600/SunriseReflectionStilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V8c6eXTLhSU/WbqZ2SQ7mBI/AAAAAAAAB1U/qEmDnso457w-za4mSol0phjuGQpN-n0IwCLcBGAs/s1600/SunriseReflectionStilt.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Sunrise Reflection"</i></b> I'll leave you with an image of one of the larger <i>Calidris</i> sandpipers, the stilt sandpiper (<i>Calidris himantopus</i>) which I photographed just after sunrise as we emerged out onto the first of the mud flats on East Pond. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4.5-5.6 DG APO lens, ISO 400,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/8, 1/320 sec.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Enjoy and always keep the welfare of the birds utmost in your mind.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-80674501301086934802017-09-05T18:28:00.002-04:002017-09-05T18:39:35.970-04:00And Now For Something Completely Different<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qtxRQBq0jwk/WazBmRzlJxI/AAAAAAAABwo/ovi_ey6FNMkCfPIx0PILD_zu_ErKN0DbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Amusement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qtxRQBq0jwk/WazBmRzlJxI/AAAAAAAABwo/ovi_ey6FNMkCfPIx0PILD_zu_ErKN0DbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Amusement.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Amusement"</i></b> While I got a lot of successful images of the ferris wheel lit up with a variety of color patterns, this long exposure was my favorite combination of pattern in the ferris wheel and color/pattern in the foreground ride. Canon 7D, Rokinon 14mm <i>f</i>/2.8, 2.5 seconds, <i>f</i>/16, ISO 100.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />All right, this might be a little "off-brand" for <a href="http://www.bestnatureimages.com/" target="_blank">Whimbrel Nature</a> (emphasis on the nature) and quite a contrast to my two recent <a href="http://blog.bestnatureimages.com/2017/08/behind-image-bald-river-gorge.html" target="_blank">wilderness</a> posts, but I also enjoy and specialize in night photography. While I particularly like to do more nature-related night photography, including astrophotography, the genre also frequently involves human structures and activities. Recently I had a chance to photograph with my friend and fellow night photographer Peter Nagy at Rye Playland, a Westchester County Art Deco style amusement park on the Long Island Sound that opened in 1928. How could I pass up a chance to play around photographing at night, developing my skills, and hanging out with a great guy? In today's post, I thought I'd share some of my favorite images from the evening.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-77PzjUn6w/WazKLeyhg8I/AAAAAAAABw4/wZnk4mkFYSseW467kqCcvyntoe9X56e4gCLcBGAs/s1600/ItDontMeanAThing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S-77PzjUn6w/WazKLeyhg8I/AAAAAAAABw4/wZnk4mkFYSseW467kqCcvyntoe9X56e4gCLcBGAs/s1600/ItDontMeanAThing.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"It Don't Mean A Thing..."</i></b> Although I got some great spinning images from this ride, my favorite two images were taken before the ride began to rotate. In this image, riders wait impatiently for the ride to start and swing back and forth as much as they are able. The movement of the riders gave just enough blur to mask most individual features and clothing, giving the image a timeless feel, heightened by the black and white treatment. Canon 7D, Rokinon 14mm <i>f</i>/2.8, 2.5 seconds, <i>f</i>/16, ISO 100.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Some of my favorite images from the evening came from the Playland Yo-Yo, a classic swing ride. This ride was tucked away in a corner facing the Sound, so it was darker than other rides. The lights on the ride itself, as well as one overhead light produced a circular spotlight effect on the ride that heightened the drama. The nearing-full moon added a nice additional compositional element.<br /><br /><b>"It Don't Mean A Thing..."</b> shows the riders swinging impatiently back and forth, waiting for the ride to begin. The motion blur helps mask individual features and clothing, making this image feel like it could just as easily be from the 50's or 60's as from 2017. Converting to black and white added to the timeless effect and heightened the drama of the image. I enhanced the spotlight effect on the ride from the ambient lighting by using a very strong vignette. The symmetry and balance in this image works; with the structure on the right balancing out the background ride on the left, and the moon and clouds balanced by the barely lit tree limb. The symmetry in this case helps emphasize the dynamism (and restlessness) in the riders.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjEkBGyZetU/Wa8dV62KP2I/AAAAAAAABxI/NprBd7FSJQo259sEzk-4NBhOIBIfQxW-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IveGotNoStrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IjEkBGyZetU/Wa8dV62KP2I/AAAAAAAABxI/NprBd7FSJQo259sEzk-4NBhOIBIfQxW-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IveGotNoStrings.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"I've Got No Strings"</i></b> The Playland Yo-Yo classic swing ride as the ride starts and raises the riders up in the air a bit before it starts rotating. Canon 7D, Rokinon 14mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/2.8, 2.5 seconds,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, ISO 100.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b>"I've Got No Strings"</b> is another image from the the Yo-Yo. Normally I'd edit down to one, but I really like both these images and think they communicate different ideas. While I really like the black and white treatment of the image above, in this case I had to leave the color, otherwise the riders are too blurred and blend into the rest of the image. Thus losing an important aspect of this image for me. The bouncing up and down and then raising into the air at the beginning of the ride really made the riders look like puppets. While complimentary in content to the previous image, that image made me think more of impatience to be entertained; this image made me think more of our need for artificial stimulation to induce happiness. I don't know if it was the fact that it was nighttime, or the huge crowds of people, but it tended to bring out the darker interpretations of amusement park subjects in me this particular evening. I also really like how the front shadows are pretty normal, while the riders are blurred and abstract.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iiOBvMlt2Ps/Wa8iQq1jh7I/AAAAAAAABxY/0XhZ5hoL6G8VDzKZBMXRjZMv_cJhT2mOgCLcBGAs/s1600/PaintingTheSky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iiOBvMlt2Ps/Wa8iQq1jh7I/AAAAAAAABxY/0XhZ5hoL6G8VDzKZBMXRjZMv_cJhT2mOgCLcBGAs/s1600/PaintingTheSky.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Painting The Sky"</i></b> For this image of several fireworks bursts, I slowly zoomed my lens in and out during part of some of the bursts, giving a very interesting effect. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4-5.6 DG APO lens, 10 seconds, f/16, ISO 100.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Finally, I'll leave you with a couple of firework abstracts from the evening's fireworks display. I started out shooting wide, but the foreground wasn't really working for me and the fireworks ended up being shot basically straight up, rather than out over the Sound. So, I quickly switched to my telephoto to shoot isolations instead. Enjoy!<br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pmTImf2HmR4/Wa8jTBJP4AI/AAAAAAAABxg/GUO0_gc3yd0nOFLzvCWx36lKlMF-_h9cQCLcBGAs/s1600/AllThatGlitters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pmTImf2HmR4/Wa8jTBJP4AI/AAAAAAAABxg/GUO0_gc3yd0nOFLzvCWx36lKlMF-_h9cQCLcBGAs/s1600/AllThatGlitters.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"All That Glitters"</i></b> This was a more standard image. I don't think I did any zooming during this exposure. But the sparkling trailers from the shells, combined with a slight breeze created some interest. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, 10 seconds, f/16, ISO 100.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeSewWmClS0/Wa8kVPDFJnI/AAAAAAAABxo/jhUmWEGkoJgDWw1GwMTUOvi1xb_r-wAeACLcBGAs/s1600/PaintingTheSky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aeSewWmClS0/Wa8kVPDFJnI/AAAAAAAABxo/jhUmWEGkoJgDWw1GwMTUOvi1xb_r-wAeACLcBGAs/s1600/PaintingTheSky2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Painting The Sky 2"</i></b> I think I did a bit more subtle zooming during part of this one. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, 10 seconds, f/16, ISO 100.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-79280481667596300842017-08-30T22:21:00.001-04:002017-08-31T14:04:33.601-04:00Behind The Image: Bald River Gorge Wilderness Cascade<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ6h89Cffc0/WadNRaDKDuI/AAAAAAAABwE/x3rLvg8Gre0mRRUmv_p3dE1gaboWE5ZmwCLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AZ6h89Cffc0/WadNRaDKDuI/AAAAAAAABwE/x3rLvg8Gre0mRRUmv_p3dE1gaboWE5ZmwCLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascade.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Wilderness Cascade"</i></b> Bald River Gorge Wilderness, Cherokee National Forest, TN. Canon 7D,&nbsp;Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4-5.6 DG APO lens, 1/5 second, <i>f</i>/22, ISO 100, two shot panorama on tripod.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />For today's behind the image, I thought I'd take a look at one of my images from my spring "Smallest Wilderness" project trip to Tennessee. These smaller cascades were upstream of the ninety foot Bald River Falls on the edge of the beautiful Bald River Gorge Wilderness.<br /><br /><b>Composition</b><br /><br />First, let's start with my compositional intentions. I wanted to capture a somewhat abstract image that illustrated the beauty of the patterns in the falling water and dark underlying rock, without providing other grounding or contextual elements on the shoreline. I was particularly drawn to the distinct curvilinear lines of the steep drops framing the roiling and chaotic drop pool and shallower cascades in the middle. I knew that I wanted to render the water with a silky texture, while maintaining enough detail to make out individual lines of current and to preserve the jagged texture of the underlying rock in the foreground. A deep final drop pool, fast current, and the nearby ninety foot drop precluded getting into the river, so my only choice was to shoot from the very tip of an overhanging rock ledge. Leafless branches sticking out into the river and the far shoreline meant that I needed to zoom in quite a bit to maintain a clean composition.<br /><br /><b>Mechanics</b><br /><br />You may have heard the axiom to "never shoot at <i>f</i>/22". Why? Because <a href="https://fstoppers.com/studio/fstoppers-original-what-lens-diffraction-and-when-does-diffraction-happen-6022" target="_blank">lens diffraction</a> reduces the overall sharpness of the image. This is a good general rule to follow. Yet, as you can see from the caption above, I did just that (and frequently do in my nature photography). You now might be rightfully asking yourself, "why?" In most cases, it has to do with the fact that depth of field is paramount for the particular image I'm making (most often macro) and more important than the slight edge in overall sharpness. More often than not in these situations, conditions such as a moving or changing subject, wind, rapidly changing light, etc... also preclude an attempt at focus stacking.<br /><br />For this particular image, several factors were in play. First, zoomed into about 140mm (x1.6 crop factor makes an effective length of 224mm) and being relatively close to the cascade, depth of field became crucial in capturing detail in the foreground cascade and the deceptively relatively distant background cascade. This was important to establish the framing effect that I wanted and keeping the abstract nature of the image. Focus stacking wasn't feasible in this case because of the ever shifting lines of the current. Second, I needed to lower my shutter speed enough to get the required silkiness in the water. Finally, I knew that by rendering the water as a blurred, silky flow, absolute crisp sharpness was not going to be an absolute requirement for this particular photograph.<br /><br />It turned out that at the level of zoom required to crop out the bare, out of focus, branches poking in from the sides, I couldn't fully get both the bottom of the background steep drop and the foreground steep drop in the frame at the same time. So I took the two following frames.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLKeCde2qUI/Wadsr8maErI/AAAAAAAABwU/M-a49SEV34UV01lOXWLNwcNNqyUawVABQCLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascadeMaking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lLKeCde2qUI/Wadsr8maErI/AAAAAAAABwU/M-a49SEV34UV01lOXWLNwcNNqyUawVABQCLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascadeMaking.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b><br /></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFfnXw7s9Hs/WadtBaUaJkI/AAAAAAAABwY/SyGWPAjHWWMv1f_Eietcs7osO20UgXBNACLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascadeMaking-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFfnXw7s9Hs/WadtBaUaJkI/AAAAAAAABwY/SyGWPAjHWWMv1f_Eietcs7osO20UgXBNACLcBGAs/s1600/BaldRiverGorgeCascadeMaking-2.jpg" /></a></div><b><br /></b><b>Post-Processing</b><br /><b><br /></b>Unfortunately, being a fairly abstract image, there weren't enough reference points for either Lightroom or Photoshop to automatically stitch the two images above together properly. So I brought both images into Photoshop as different layers. I used "Auto-Align Layers" to get the layers roughly lined up and then changed the opacity of the top layer to 50% and used the move tool to line up the pattern of the jagged rock in the foreground as accurately as possible.<br /><br />Even then, the ever-changing lines of flow in the foreground had changed enough in between images (and due to the perspective shift) that the lines would not line up if I blended in the middle of the bottom falls. Leaving a very obvious seam. I realized, however, that if I blended the two layers right at the bottom fall line (at the top of the jagged rock), then the blend was invisible. I used the graduated tool to draw a very short transition between white and black on the layer mask for the top layer, blending the two images together seamlessly. Then it was just a matter of cropping off the horizontal mismatch in the edges of the frame.<br /><br />Finally, I made standard processing adjustments to the RAW file in Lightroom. I adjusted the Exposure, Whites, Highlights, and Blacks sliders for contrast and maintaining a proper level of detail in the whitewater. I adjusted Clarity and Vibrance and added an additional Medium Contrast curve for added impact. I corrected for the lens used and more importantly chromatic aberration. I added a slight amount of noise reduction and some slight capture sharpening. Because of the abstract nature of the subject and the already dark rock and water, I only added a slight amount of vignetting to hold the viewers eye, without being obvious.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-68724125318800224132017-08-22T22:08:00.000-04:002017-08-22T22:17:32.862-04:00Smallest Wilderness: Gee Creek Wilderness Area<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GW_OT9JeACQ/WZzefIciGHI/AAAAAAAABvk/XDuy3lqABnsfpkwMFWgOllqvrpkDpoEnwCLcBGAs/s1600/GeeCreekCascade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GW_OT9JeACQ/WZzefIciGHI/AAAAAAAABvk/XDuy3lqABnsfpkwMFWgOllqvrpkDpoEnwCLcBGAs/s1600/GeeCreekCascade.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Early Morning Cascade On Gee Creek"</i></b> The only trail through the Gee Creek Wilderness ascends along (and across) the tumbling cataracts of Gee Creek.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A quick update from my "Smallest Wilderness" project. For those unfamiliar with this project, I'm trying to visit and photograph all 65 federally designated wilderness area that are under 5000 acres and are not connected to a larger wilderness complex (i.e. just separated by a road). The goal is to produce a book.<br /><br />Why five thousand acres? Because this was a number tossed around by the original framers of the Wilderness Act and included in the language of the act itself. According to the "Definition of Wilderness" criteria in the 1964 Wilderness Act "<i>(3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition.</i>" In fact, the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act of 1975 was enacted because strict adherence to the definition in the original Wilderness Act was leading to little land being designated wilderness in the eastern part of the country.<br /><br />Today I'm featuring the 2,559 acre Gee Creek Wilderness which I visited in April. One of three small wilderness areas southwest of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Cherokee National Forest, Gee Creek packs a lot of punch for a small wilderness area. The less than 2 mile trail into the heart of this wilderness passes through some truly stunning scenery and also has a fabulous concentration of early spring ephemeral wildflowers.<br /><br />Have you visited a federally designated Wilderness Area? If so, which one(s)? What did you think of it? Leave a message in the comments describing your wilderness experience (big or small).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xs9p0YdMe4/WZziwunO3eI/AAAAAAAABvw/sIVJO0bXIOYJG_bZnCv1e37TqKFWtNQ4wCLcBGAs/s1600/GeeCreekTrilliumMaple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xs9p0YdMe4/WZziwunO3eI/AAAAAAAABvw/sIVJO0bXIOYJG_bZnCv1e37TqKFWtNQ4wCLcBGAs/s1600/GeeCreekTrilliumMaple.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Spring Green"</i></b> Trillium, spring maple leaves, and a katydid nymph along Gee Creek.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-52838875079060067682017-08-16T23:21:00.002-04:002017-08-17T13:11:09.485-04:00Behind The Images- Skimming The Light And Ravenel Bridge Twilight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPGpdQA0AiY/WZT0Wu47BzI/AAAAAAAABu0/r-77gsjuFcsOFCV7XZd2dDmEtnZpEDeFQCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmingTheLight-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPGpdQA0AiY/WZT0Wu47BzI/AAAAAAAABu0/r-77gsjuFcsOFCV7XZd2dDmEtnZpEDeFQCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmingTheLight-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />This image, "Skimming The Light" was taken in late February while I was on a trip to photograph some Wilderness Areas just north of Charleston, SC for my "Smallest Wilderness" project. I went into the northern part of Mount Pleasant to grab a bite to eat and thought I'd head over near sunset to the Ravenel Bridge for a little fun sunset/night photography. When I got there and started setting up on the end of the fishing pier under the bridge, I noticed the small groups of brown pelicans were flying very low to the river under the bridge on their way down the Cooper River. Just inches off the surface of the river. As the sun started setting, the groups of pelicans came at a fairly regular pace. So while my rented Canon 6D was on the tripod for the bridge shots, I popped my rented EF 100-400 <i>f</i>/4.5-5.6L IS II lens on my Canon 7D body and started tracking the pelicans (hand-held) as they flew near the end of the pier. Despite the relatively low light, it was easy to maintain focus on the birds as they were flying exactly parallel to the end of the pier and I could usually roughly preset the focus to approximately the right distance out on the water before the birds arrived.<br /><br />This image was taken at the beginning of twilight, just after the sun sunk below the horizon. There was still plenty of light and color in the sky which reflected beautifully in the ripples on the river. Given the brightness of the water and the relatively low light levels, it made sense to capture the image as a silhouette, rather than trying to capture detail in the pelican. The zoom was racked out to 400mm (640mm equivalent on the 1.6 crop factor of the 7D). So I was trying to keep the shutter speed as high as possible (even with the internal stabilization) while maintaining a decent ISO to reduce noise. I ended up shooting this image at ISO 400 and 1/200th of a second at <i>f</i>/5.6. On some frames the birds were blurry due to unsteady tracking or panning faster or slower than the bird, but on this particular frame I panned with this bird's motion perfectly and the shutter speed was just high enough to keep the bird and water relatively sharp. Most birds were gliding with their wings open quite a bit, like this bird, but it was still a matter of catching the right angle and posture where the outline of the pelican was clearly recognizable.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmwERO1LH4o/WZUD2hrXmxI/AAAAAAAABvQ/MmM68TedYDMMCFkKMigfYz-EDBa7CU_wwCLcBGAs/s1600/RavenelBridgeTwilightPano-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DmwERO1LH4o/WZUD2hrXmxI/AAAAAAAABvQ/MmM68TedYDMMCFkKMigfYz-EDBa7CU_wwCLcBGAs/s1600/RavenelBridgeTwilightPano-1.jpg" /></a></div>After catching some close-ups of the bridge silhouetted against the sunset sky and tracking pelicans with the telephoto for a while, the twilight sky finally darkened enough for the lit bridge to stand out against it. I liked the deep blue color of twilight above the bridge, while the band of sunset orange at the horizon added complimentary color interest. I shot "Ravenel Bridge Twilight" with a rented Canon 6D body, which is a full-frame sensor and has great low-light performance.<br /><br />In order to get the perspective and framing that I wanted for the bridge, I had to shoot with my&nbsp;Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO lens at 70mm. However, that meant I couldn't fit the whole bridge in one image. So to create this vertical image I shot 7 horizontal images on top of each other, each overlapped by approximately 50%, and stitched them together vertically using the panoramic stitching software in Lightroom and Photoshop. Each image was exposed at 6 seconds at <i>f</i>/16 and ISO 100. Since the camera was full frame, and the panorama is composed from 7 images, the file size and quality on this panorama are huge.<br /><br />Despite the extensive overlap in the frames, all the stitching software and all the different stitching algorithms had difficulty stitching the images together vertically properly and there was an area between the first and second supports where some of the details, including the wires and the upper part of the second support structure, did not quite match up properly. To fix this, I brought the panorama and the appropriate overlapping horizontal frame from the original series into Photoshop as layers. I auto-aligned the layers, which didn't do a perfect job, but enough that the problem areas matched up between the original image and the panorama. I then put a black layer mask on the original image and used a relatively small brush at 50% hardness to paint with white on the mask just over the problem areas in the panorama. This brought in the details from the original image in just those areas and "fixed" the mismatched wires and other details.<br /><br />I hope you enjoyed the "Behind The Images" and feel free to post any questions in the comments section. In the next post, I'll include some more images from my "Smallest Wilderness" trips down South this late winter and early spring.Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-13849554266758598112017-08-09T22:24:00.002-04:002017-08-09T22:56:06.059-04:00Slow Down, You Move Too Fast - Nickerson Beach Part II<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-uIlSSshVs/WYjQyky78iI/AAAAAAAABtM/fdDJsZq7LX0oi1JRL5SSCa98u77t-Nx4ACLcBGAs/s1600/BringingHomeTheBacon-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-uIlSSshVs/WYjQyky78iI/AAAAAAAABtM/fdDJsZq7LX0oi1JRL5SSCa98u77t-Nx4ACLcBGAs/s1600/BringingHomeTheBacon-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Bringing Home The (Aquatic) Bacon"</i></b>- A common tern returns to the colony site from the open ocean with prey. Photographed from the edge of the beach with a Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld, Canon 7D, <i>f</i>/5.6, 1/3200 sec., ISO 400.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />On my recent trip to Nickerson Beach Park, I made two important observations about my fellow nature photographers. First, even though there were a fair amount of photographers there that day, the vast majority arrived well after the best light, and many were arriving as I was leaving for the day. Second, and more importantly, the majority of the photographers stood upright the entire time and moved pretty rapidly up and down the beach, chasing the areas of perceived action or new subjects.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHUzqq6LQcc/WYov3RXavpI/AAAAAAAABtc/OmM1dLNUJ-oeUX3uDh4F_-4VBob3ZIBYwCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmerCrashingWave-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BHUzqq6LQcc/WYov3RXavpI/AAAAAAAABtc/OmM1dLNUJ-oeUX3uDh4F_-4VBob3ZIBYwCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmerCrashingWave-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Cruising The Shoreline"</i></b>- A black skimmer flies along the shoreline in front of the crashing surf after a feeding sortie near sunrise. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1600.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaLSeCX_yus/WYoxBj_tX5I/AAAAAAAABtg/dCAa4mlPFqUJkH-cdlfj1jWLAQrV2YExQCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmingTheWaves-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaLSeCX_yus/WYoxBj_tX5I/AAAAAAAABtg/dCAa4mlPFqUJkH-cdlfj1jWLAQrV2YExQCLcBGAs/s1600/SkimmingTheWaves-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Skimming The Waves"</i></b>- A black skimmer demonstrates their distinctive feeding style in the trough between waves at Nickerson Beach Park. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/2500 sec., ISO 1600.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>So why did all these photographers arrive so late? Yes, admittedly for the first half hour or so, it was difficult for me to get good action shots with my original version Canon 7D. However, a lot of these photographers were carrying much nicer equipment than I, with newer camera bodies with much better high ISO performance. Plus, what about more stationary subjects? Even with action subjects, you may miss over 90% of your shots; but what about the one or two where the light combines with the action to produce something truly sublime, and not something that every other shooter has in their portfolio? Not to mention the time spent establishing the animals behavior patterns and flight routes, plus habituating them to your presence, that leads to better images as the light gets stronger?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_kzEWhMG-Io/WYuzhC9-R0I/AAAAAAAABtw/cyfRgHPTEU4k1ru0W3HJuCemo3X9CtogwCLcBGAs/s1600/LandingSkimmer-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_kzEWhMG-Io/WYuzhC9-R0I/AAAAAAAABtw/cyfRgHPTEU4k1ru0W3HJuCemo3X9CtogwCLcBGAs/s1600/LandingSkimmer-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Skimmer And The Strip"</i></b>- A black skimmer comes in for a landing on Nickerson Beach with the Lido Beach strip in the background. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/3200 sec., ISO 400.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUNLovpFQRs/WYu0SOeglqI/AAAAAAAABt4/NXs7gzggmJAfRi8Cl6WDivdgWJA3QQTyACLcBGAs/s1600/Twistin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUNLovpFQRs/WYu0SOeglqI/AAAAAAAABt4/NXs7gzggmJAfRi8Cl6WDivdgWJA3QQTyACLcBGAs/s1600/Twistin-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Twistin'"</i></b>- A black skimmer shakes itself off in mid-air as it flies over Nickerson Beach on the way back to the colony site. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/3200 sec., ISO 400</span></td></tr></tbody></table>I find that I often have more success and a better experience with wildlife photography if I find a great area for animal activity, and then wait for the wildlife to come to me. In this case, I found an active area of the beach where there was some oystercatcher activity and where many of the terns and skimmers would head out over the beach to forage on the water and then return to the colony. I got low to the ground (mostly sitting and kneeling) and stayed very still. I felt a bit like an idiot, especially once the joggers and regular beach-goers began to arrive, but I also wore a ghillie suit to break up my outline and make me appear less threatening. Did I think the birds actually couldn't see me against the light sand beach? Absolutely not, but I hoped breaking up my human outline might help them see me as less of a threat and make it easier for them to become habituated to my presence. I also hoped this might have a little less of an impact on the birds normal behavior patterns. Sure, there were lots of people running and biking on the beach that didn't care one whit for the birds behavior and comfort, but as a nature photographer and conservationist, I figured I should do my best not to add to the problem.<br /><br />Most of my fellow photographers on the beach that morning spent their time fully upright with their tripods fully extended. Most walked right up and stood at the rope marking the boundaries of the nesting colony. They moved frequently, chasing the areas of most intense activity. Most were wearing modest khaki or green field clothing, but some hadn't even bothered with that much. In many cases, it was clear that the birds were reacting to their presence. For some with the really long lenses, this strategy may have resulted in some good images. I don't know. But I wonder what images they missed and how much of an impact they had on the birds they (at least should) love.<br /><br />Sure, the activity would occasionally dip at my stationary spot. Flight patterns and intense activity would shift out of reach. But by being patient, good action would eventually come back to me and I managed to get some really great shots with only a 70-300mm zoom (admittedly 300mm being equivalent to a 480mm lens with the 1.6 crop factor on a Canon 7D). By letting the wildlife come to me, I had less impact and more keepers with a relatively short lens, and frankly enjoyed myself and observed more behavior as well.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRn7vmkJDHo/WYvBznPWvqI/AAAAAAAABuI/0op2G8j7KlQzncqesCghyH9LDaQGL5megCLcBGAs/s1600/OystercatcherBeach-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SRn7vmkJDHo/WYvBznPWvqI/AAAAAAAABuI/0op2G8j7KlQzncqesCghyH9LDaQGL5megCLcBGAs/s1600/OystercatcherBeach-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Strolling"</i></b>- This image of an American oystercatcher gives just enough detail to get a sense of habitat while still isolating the bird. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/4-5.6 DG APO lens, handheld,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6, 1/3200 sec., ISO 400</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Next time you're out photographing wildlife. Particularly if you don't have a super-telephoto lens. Think about staying low, staying still, and waiting for the action to come to you.<br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-64071317959766693062017-08-03T15:16:00.002-04:002017-08-03T15:16:45.467-04:00Nickerson Beach Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ5wFptVogo/WYN1TrkrdlI/AAAAAAAABsw/ZTHkQFanvngXio6hvvOdYs3RoNdNo4tfQCLcBGAs/s1600/MeAndMyShadowAMOY-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FQ5wFptVogo/WYN1TrkrdlI/AAAAAAAABsw/ZTHkQFanvngXio6hvvOdYs3RoNdNo4tfQCLcBGAs/s1600/MeAndMyShadowAMOY-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Me And My Shadow"-An American oystercatcher returns from the ocean with food for its young.</td></tr></tbody></table>Just time for a quick post. Spent a marvelous recent morning photographing beach birds at Nickerson Beach Park on Long Island, NY. This is a fabulous little county park that has a large colony of nesting American oystercatchers, black skimmers, and common terns (among others). I got quite a few keepers from this trip, so I'll post more soon. In the meantime, enjoy! And get outside and enjoy! We are coming to the best part of the summer. Lots of young birds, the biting insects are dying down, the weather is getting more pleasant, and believe it or not, fall migration has already started for some birds.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIearMhz_IQ/WYN2A2yXDcI/AAAAAAAABs4/svG09woxAMUfYmFADawHeu3xp87BmRjQgCEwYBhgL/s1600/NickersonAMOY-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIearMhz_IQ/WYN2A2yXDcI/AAAAAAAABs4/svG09woxAMUfYmFADawHeu3xp87BmRjQgCEwYBhgL/s1600/NickersonAMOY-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Nickerson Oystercatcher"-An American oystercatcher walks down the beach in front of the dunes at Nickerson Beach Park.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9Ws1ZdkLoo/WYN1pkk8HkI/AAAAAAAABs0/fGBjonpyPTcmEmNUWQ_98cnTIBbAiME1wCLcBGAs/s1600/SanderlingEscapingSurf-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K9Ws1ZdkLoo/WYN1pkk8HkI/AAAAAAAABs0/fGBjonpyPTcmEmNUWQ_98cnTIBbAiME1wCLcBGAs/s1600/SanderlingEscapingSurf-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Perfect Landing"-A sanderling lands just in front of the advancing foamy surf.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-55620519699991236302017-07-28T22:55:00.000-04:002017-07-29T14:19:45.723-04:00Evening Insects<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZpaIIKSUqE/WXv3-q4F3DI/AAAAAAAABsI/Niwo4dn6CQ0xsqnJU-Y8aaUSP6czQRsfgCLcBGAs/s1600/SleepyBumble-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZpaIIKSUqE/WXv3-q4F3DI/AAAAAAAABsI/Niwo4dn6CQ0xsqnJU-Y8aaUSP6czQRsfgCLcBGAs/s1600/SleepyBumble-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Sleepy Bumble" A bumble bee curls up for the night on top of an Echinacea in the pollinator gardens.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I had a chance to pop by Swan Lake at Rockefeller State Park Preserve this evening for a short macro photography session. The overcast was heavier than expected, so it was pretty dark. But I managed to find some interesting compositions amongst the milkweeds around the lake and in the pollinator gardens near the visitor's center. Enjoy!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI1YFmANFnE/WXv4edN-B5I/AAAAAAAABsM/Vj6JAKubJvATEn0hfzBV4gLzKxXMqUZWwCLcBGAs/s1600/RedMilkweedBeetle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dI1YFmANFnE/WXv4edN-B5I/AAAAAAAABsM/Vj6JAKubJvATEn0hfzBV4gLzKxXMqUZWwCLcBGAs/s1600/RedMilkweedBeetle-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of red milkweed beetles (<i>Tetraopes tetrophthalamus</i>) cling to a milkweed leaf near Swan Lake.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-82241619610523452712017-07-25T00:41:00.000-04:002017-07-25T00:53:03.808-04:00Hawley Bog And Carnivorous Plants<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tuheAg8eWs/WXa_Is_GAtI/AAAAAAAABp4/y7uss1gcS3YDLxWZ1psV1refp6vqKbIhQCLcBGAs/s1600/HawleyBogWide-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tuheAg8eWs/WXa_Is_GAtI/AAAAAAAABp4/y7uss1gcS3YDLxWZ1psV1refp6vqKbIhQCLcBGAs/s1600/HawleyBogWide-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide view of the dew-covered Hawley Bog with pitcher plants, bog rosemary, and grass pink (or Calopogon) orchid visible.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />While attending the NECCC at UMass and doing some <a href="http://blog.bestnatureimages.com/2017/07/u-mass-its-educational.html" target="_blank">night photography</a>, I was also able to sneak away for a morning of nature photography at Hawley Bog. Hawley Bog is a unique well-preserved New England bog complex, jointly owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy and the Five College Consortium. Bogs are one of my all-time favorite habitats; full of exotic plants and often a somewhat exotic northern-type avifauna. Plus, how cool is it to feel the ground shake beneath your feet like jello?<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNbxJuEhL6E/WXbCx0-uW3I/AAAAAAAABqQ/U0oUrxQKpa8exh0MtA4laIA2h73KqXQ9wCLcBGAs/s1600/Sundew-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kNbxJuEhL6E/WXbCx0-uW3I/AAAAAAAABqQ/U0oUrxQKpa8exh0MtA4laIA2h73KqXQ9wCLcBGAs/s1600/Sundew-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A round-leaved sundew leaf emerges from the mat of Sphagnum moss. The glistening drops of fluid attract and trap insects which are then digested through enzymes.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Acidic bogs are poor in nitrogen and other nutrients, thus you find many carnivorous species of plants which trap insects to provide necessary nutrients they can't extract from the soil. Hawley bog is host to round-leaved sundew (<i>Drosera rotundifolia</i>), purple pitcher plants (<i>Sarracenia purpurea</i>), and horned bladderwort (<i>Utricularia cornuta</i>), all carnivorous species.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xj4xPdphqPU/WXbE6NZXy4I/AAAAAAAABqg/7CSNyS4R7r8gXAaLGoLSVZInzqN5J5pyACLcBGAs/s1600/PitcherAndFly-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xj4xPdphqPU/WXbE6NZXy4I/AAAAAAAABqg/7CSNyS4R7r8gXAaLGoLSVZInzqN5J5pyACLcBGAs/s1600/PitcherAndFly-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flowers of purple pitcher plants rise above the surface of the bog like funky umbrellas. This flower playing host to a fly.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urMY6SnQNqw/WXbFbiQtrGI/AAAAAAAABqw/aBfuIabymCYK4LEgRue8P26Xoh1RRT1lACLcBGAs/s1600/HornedBladderwort-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-urMY6SnQNqw/WXbFbiQtrGI/AAAAAAAABqw/aBfuIabymCYK4LEgRue8P26Xoh1RRT1lACLcBGAs/s1600/HornedBladderwort-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flowers of horned bladderwort are quite striking in their own right. The leaves of this plant contain tiny bladders which trap very small invertebrates.</td></tr></tbody></table>In addition to the carnivorous plants, Hawley Bog also hosts several species of bog orchids. Another group of plants that are just as fascinating and beautiful in my mind.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yIy2xhfFl0/WXbHb2WutqI/AAAAAAAABq8/DyIuI_x66JcbyZZYUE1POq5RmB5iQhO7QCLcBGAs/s1600/GrassPinkClose-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5yIy2xhfFl0/WXbHb2WutqI/AAAAAAAABq8/DyIuI_x66JcbyZZYUE1POq5RmB5iQhO7QCLcBGAs/s1600/GrassPinkClose-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass pink orchids (<i>Calopogon tuberosus</i>) are perhaps my favorite species of orchid. Beautiful and associated with the fairly rare bog habitat.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZR1ukP53M/WXbIXVc0E_I/AAAAAAAABrQ/YsNu-xc9SuQduHXHBxMu5s5_EPKTWCJsACLcBGAs/s1600/RosePogoniaBlack-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RhZR1ukP53M/WXbIXVc0E_I/AAAAAAAABrQ/YsNu-xc9SuQduHXHBxMu5s5_EPKTWCJsACLcBGAs/s1600/RosePogoniaBlack-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose pogonia (<i>Pogonia ophioglossoides</i>) is another beautiful pink orchid commonly found in bogs and fens.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrqspix4bM/WXbJgZP4kzI/AAAAAAAABrU/GKKYLFQvVVEDBt5rDbeHIpUHl9FEoZn_ACLcBGAs/s1600/RosePogonia1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYrqspix4bM/WXbJgZP4kzI/AAAAAAAABrU/GKKYLFQvVVEDBt5rDbeHIpUHl9FEoZn_ACLcBGAs/s1600/RosePogonia1-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose pogonia (or snakemouth orchid) from the side.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIkx6vEa-U/WXbKJdcIL-I/AAAAAAAABrY/jHMVtktFYegBrBQtS7yqQtVEkR2mX6XngCLcBGAs/s1600/WhiteFringedOrchisCloseBlack-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LfIkx6vEa-U/WXbKJdcIL-I/AAAAAAAABrY/jHMVtktFYegBrBQtS7yqQtVEkR2mX6XngCLcBGAs/s1600/WhiteFringedOrchisCloseBlack-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although I don't associate it as much with bogs as the previous two species, white-fringed orchis (<i>Platanthera blephariglottis</i>) grows out on the Hawley Bog and blooms slightly later in the summer than the other two species. Luckily this plant was farther along than most of the other specimens.</td></tr></tbody></table>Finally, around the edges of the bog grows yellow loosestrife or swamp candles (<i>Lysimachia terrestris</i>), a wetland indicator plant. As a young birder, I used to love yellow loosestrife because of its beautiful yellow spike of flowers, making it easy to identify, and its apt and poetic alternate name, swamp candle.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wg_-08c_zRY/WXbLM6pFV-I/AAAAAAAABrc/djaI-DbWLIIM8B3BR473-cRUEDG6KSXjwCLcBGAs/s1600/SwampCandle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wg_-08c_zRY/WXbLM6pFV-I/AAAAAAAABrc/djaI-DbWLIIM8B3BR473-cRUEDG6KSXjwCLcBGAs/s1600/SwampCandle-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swamp candles add their bright flame to the wetland complex. Yellow loosestrife is the only local yellow-colored loosestrife species that doesn't have leaves obscuring the yellow flowers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-91478796187894658822017-07-20T23:36:00.000-04:002017-07-22T13:14:34.354-04:00U-Mass, It's Educational<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QXlEIcNmmA/WXFbgL6LEjI/AAAAAAAABmo/rnlt1IoZKZA-y2MjCkbeCNRmbAmO-zVCACLcBGAs/s1600/CampusPondNight-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4QXlEIcNmmA/WXFbgL6LEjI/AAAAAAAABmo/rnlt1IoZKZA-y2MjCkbeCNRmbAmO-zVCACLcBGAs/s1600/CampusPondNight-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Campus Pond, Night, 2017"</i></b> looking towards the Fine Art Center. The fountains are a nice touch to the campus pond, however they still aren't producing enough movement to combat the algae build-up, which has filled in the entire back section of the pond. This is a panorama stitched from 5 vertical images taken with a Tamron 150-600mm (at 150mm) zoom I borrowed at the conference.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The title of this blog post comes from the Pixies song "U-Mass", which incidentally, I was first introduced to when I was a freshman at UMass on a spring break caving trip to WV. I just returned from the annual New England Camera Club Conference (NECCC) which is held at my alma mater. It was interesting to see all the changes that have occurred to the campus in the last ten years (I returned for grad school and defended my PhD in 2007).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_ANLFZnS-o/WXFeDCkb56I/AAAAAAAABm0/LPyQLLfWtH4vOhGaQbfnFBizHvIqgIurACLcBGAs/s1600/WaterYouDoing-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W_ANLFZnS-o/WXFeDCkb56I/AAAAAAAABm0/LPyQLLfWtH4vOhGaQbfnFBizHvIqgIurACLcBGAs/s1600/WaterYouDoing-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Water You Doing?"</i></b> This wall near the Central Residential Area is open for "free expression" by the campus community, which I thought was a neat idea. They just repaint the wall periodically and start fresh. The jumble of graffiti suggested to me the sometimes overwhelming nature and emotions of this time and the transition to "the real world" after college, hence the pose.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />While attending talks on various photography subjects and attending a workshop on fine art printing, I was able to spend two nights doing some night photography with my friend Peter Nagy from the Color Camera Club of Westchester (where I live now in NY).<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1t0_c1haNU/WXFhQ9SP-TI/AAAAAAAABnE/RD_SGzbUGp05aNLjRHA-gtJp-IX414aHQCLcBGAs/s1600/ObeliskTransmitting-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i1t0_c1haNU/WXFhQ9SP-TI/AAAAAAAABnE/RD_SGzbUGp05aNLjRHA-gtJp-IX414aHQCLcBGAs/s1600/ObeliskTransmitting-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Obelisk Transmitting"</i></b> I've been told this sculpture in Durfee Garden is an Andrew Goldsworthy, but I'm not so sure and I've been unable to confirm online. If anyone knows for sure the artist, please comment below. This setting provided an excuse to do some more "hard-core" light painting using a string of LEDs on stretched out copper wire. Many thanks to Peter with the execution. It would have been impossible without his help. This one brings out the sci-fi geek in me.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pun-9zp4Ewk/WXFi9VJZxTI/AAAAAAAABnQ/jEULoUFe5FUSa22IjSq-b6QNucriI-ZkgCLcBGAs/s1600/DurfeeScreens-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="701" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pun-9zp4Ewk/WXFi9VJZxTI/AAAAAAAABnQ/jEULoUFe5FUSa22IjSq-b6QNucriI-ZkgCLcBGAs/s1600/DurfeeScreens-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Screened"</i></b> The rice paper-like screens in Durfee Garden are even more beautiful at night when they pick up subtle colors from the different light sources around campus and contain the projections of shadow vegetation.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdqh3-EYri0/WXFknuRyHoI/AAAAAAAABnc/Wgd6LCiBxw0_3PmlLxdXRifm5ymNFx7xQCLcBGAs/s1600/TheEggAndGreenhouse-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rdqh3-EYri0/WXFknuRyHoI/AAAAAAAABnc/Wgd6LCiBxw0_3PmlLxdXRifm5ymNFx7xQCLcBGAs/s1600/TheEggAndGreenhouse-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"The Egg And The Greenhouse"</i></b> I can't decide if I like the over-splash of blue light on the greenhouse in this one, or if I want to mask it out using a separate frame I got without the blue light. I really like the texture and color on the old conservatory though.</td></tr></tbody></table>One area we spent a bunch of time in on the first night was Durfee Gardens near the Durfee Conservatory. During my undergrad, time managing a lab, and my graduate degree, Durfee was a welcome refuge and stress-relief for me. If you get a chance, it is well worth a visit. The conservatory has a fabulous orchid room and a tropical room complete with water features and benches.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0iN4xe_ub4/WXForQvJOAI/AAAAAAAABnk/_EzxA_JnIbAq_xvdom8B6sfu6f8OoZ4kACLcBGAs/s1600/Occulus-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0iN4xe_ub4/WXForQvJOAI/AAAAAAAABnk/_EzxA_JnIbAq_xvdom8B6sfu6f8OoZ4kACLcBGAs/s1600/Occulus-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Occulus"</i></b> The new stairway and landscaping between the two Morrill Science Center buildings is gorgeous and includes this great sculpture which is further enhanced by the shadows and sodium vapor lighting present at night.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br />I have to admit, I was pretty pleased with the changes to the infrastructure I saw while I was there. The new buildings are beautiful and environmentally friendly. The landscaping has improved by leaps and bounds. Other environmental and artistic initiatives are in evidence everywhere. The food services are also incredible! I've been very critical of the UMass administration in the past, but it seems like they've been getting a lot of things right in past few years. I don't have enough info to judge how the academic program is going, although I like what I hear about the new honors college as well.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIa09E5HVwI/WXFtT-VGxiI/AAAAAAAABn4/gjpEEozxgroOc-5EVKE48Ym92xsSiBZqACLcBGAs/s1600/DesignAtRest-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIa09E5HVwI/WXFtT-VGxiI/AAAAAAAABn4/gjpEEozxgroOc-5EVKE48Ym92xsSiBZqACLcBGAs/s1600/DesignAtRest-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Design At Rest"</i></b> This abstract comes courtesy of the new benches between the Learning Center and the Student Union.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj7znTmTdHE/WXFuGr0xKFI/AAAAAAAABoA/uG-ZJt42r5s8RPZqbCIzg2OAfudQf4m7ACLcBGAs/s1600/HistoryAndTechnology-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj7znTmTdHE/WXFuGr0xKFI/AAAAAAAABoA/uG-ZJt42r5s8RPZqbCIzg2OAfudQf4m7ACLcBGAs/s1600/HistoryAndTechnology-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"History And Technology"</i></b> Metawampe sculpture juxtaposed against the large flat screen displays in the new Learning Center.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxBJK0ILB48/WXFvFHJunNI/AAAAAAAABoE/t9j3BTaafA48cBXW4S1zxW-QVfFgX3OWQCLcBGAs/s1600/CampusPondReflections-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxBJK0ILB48/WXFvFHJunNI/AAAAAAAABoE/t9j3BTaafA48cBXW4S1zxW-QVfFgX3OWQCLcBGAs/s1600/CampusPondReflections-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Campus Pond Reflections"</b></i> Lights reflect in the disturbed surface of the campus pond.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mniG4k5iQgs/WXFwHRqB4vI/AAAAAAAABoM/QZVKzj4BfJYYJ4GGgB5flXLs2O6RJ61HgCLcBGAs/s1600/CampusSteps1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mniG4k5iQgs/WXFwHRqB4vI/AAAAAAAABoM/QZVKzj4BfJYYJ4GGgB5flXLs2O6RJ61HgCLcBGAs/s1600/CampusSteps1-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Campus Center Steps Number One"</i></b> The steps of the Campus Center terrace provide ample opportunities for geometric abstracts.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgZ03x7o4M4/WXFw9U4gfqI/AAAAAAAABoU/4KyqkO1VwKs04hQI-gl1s-F3ZULC0PWsgCLcBGAs/s1600/ColdAndWarm-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qgZ03x7o4M4/WXFw9U4gfqI/AAAAAAAABoU/4KyqkO1VwKs04hQI-gl1s-F3ZULC0PWsgCLcBGAs/s1600/ColdAndWarm-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Cold And Warm"</i></b> The Fine Arts Center did my light painting for me with this juxtaposition of the blue lit alcove and the warm sodium vapor lights. I was packed up and on my way to the car, but I just had to photograph this scene with my new Rokinon 14mm lens.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPOIJds8LoQ/WXFyLR98TXI/AAAAAAAABog/wkZ6j0U3Q_8I2ldhM2UgaOlx1H5C3hoMgCLcBGAs/s1600/ShadowPlay-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QPOIJds8LoQ/WXFyLR98TXI/AAAAAAAABog/wkZ6j0U3Q_8I2ldhM2UgaOlx1H5C3hoMgCLcBGAs/s1600/ShadowPlay-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Shadow Play"</i></b> The interplay of light, shadow, and color attracted me to this composition of the back of the Student Union building.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZC47WVU7PVg/WXFzA8fPsKI/AAAAAAAABoo/u-HNgOyhi-0bIpDM6U3dt7VE51kDXtaeACLcBGAs/s1600/CampusSteps2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZC47WVU7PVg/WXFzA8fPsKI/AAAAAAAABoo/u-HNgOyhi-0bIpDM6U3dt7VE51kDXtaeACLcBGAs/s1600/CampusSteps2-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Campus Center Steps Number Two"</i></b> I have a soft spot for the texture and geometry of stone work.</td></tr></tbody></table>The second night we photographed, the wide-angle view just wasn't doing it for me. So I switched to a Tamron 150-600mm zoom that I borrowed at the conference and shot mostly isolations for the remainder of the evening. That change of perspective got the sleep-deprived creative juices flowing again and I made some compositions I was really happy with. Particularly, this next photograph is I think possibly my favorite image of the trip.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew_MLoIcFTE/WXF0RCUsKdI/AAAAAAAABow/QY2XEGIPQtkloxMeahXriLL3uaOg9zSsACLcBGAs/s1600/Bicycle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ew_MLoIcFTE/WXF0RCUsKdI/AAAAAAAABow/QY2XEGIPQtkloxMeahXriLL3uaOg9zSsACLcBGAs/s1600/Bicycle-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>"Bi-Cycle"</b></i> This bike was parked outside the entrance to the Campus Center. Possibly my most favorite image of the trip. I love the almost, but not quite, symmetry of this image and the nostalgic effect of the warm sodium vapor lighting. Even the weeds coming through the crack at the junction of the wheel and it's shadow are perfect. Although the bike is modern, the isolation and lighting make this image somewhat timeless.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Finally, I'll leave you with one more image from Durfee Gardens. My next post will be back to nature with some images I took at Hawley Bog during the conference. Orchids and carnivorous plants, oh my!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jHasuNcHeM/WXF1utb0JEI/AAAAAAAABpA/7H1MtS4Gn_8wIXOPE1bhK9jFBTG5Tjz1wCLcBGAs/s1600/Zen-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0jHasuNcHeM/WXF1utb0JEI/AAAAAAAABpA/7H1MtS4Gn_8wIXOPE1bhK9jFBTG5Tjz1wCLcBGAs/s1600/Zen-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>"Zen"</i></b> A different light painting interpretation of the egg sculpture outside of Durfee Conservatory.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0Amherst, MA 01003, USA42.3911569 -72.526712131.731726899999998 -93.1810091 53.0505869 -51.8724151tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-67971867341758615162017-05-16T23:14:00.000-04:002017-08-20T21:22:04.777-04:00Westchester Birdathon 2017- Post-Birdathon Analysis<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLdj0MZRCaU/WRuqbgZHZ7I/AAAAAAAABZU/Hk6NNQUambUX3O73_eOMMY5u8WpnNbtVwCLcB/s1600/File_000%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLdj0MZRCaU/WRuqbgZHZ7I/AAAAAAAABZU/Hk6NNQUambUX3O73_eOMMY5u8WpnNbtVwCLcB/s640/File_000%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the lousy digiscoped iPhone image, but I wanted to feature the fact that we saw three Red-throated Loons during the Birdathon. One each at Marshlands Conservancy, Edith G. Read Sanctuary, and Aiello Park. These birds should have moved on by now.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Well, it sure was an interesting Birdathon this year. The big news items were probably the weather and the almost complete lack of landbird migrants. The decision was made to actually move the Birdathon start time up from 7pm to 3pm on Friday, because of the absolutely dismal weather forecast for Saturday. While wet and at times miserable, the weather wasn't as bad as we thought and we actually managed a fairly birdy day on Saturday. Almost worse, was how quiet it was on Friday afternoon; all the migrants seemed to have moved on and even the resident species were being uncharacteristically quiet (perhaps anticipating the storm?). We only managed 37 species at our first stop despite spending more time at Rockefeller than we probably should have. We initially dipped on a lot of species that we hoped to get early on.<br /><br />But enough about the more negative news, there were lots of positives. First, the statistics:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Teammates: </b>Eric Reubel and David Miller</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Official Species Total:</b>&nbsp;109</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>eBird Checklists Submitted:</b>&nbsp;9 (full), and 6 (partial)--but that doesn't include all our stops</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Miles Driven:</b>&nbsp;Approx. 150</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Hours Actually Birded:</b>&nbsp;~ 20 hours</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>First Species Counted:</b>&nbsp;Cooper's Hawk (on a nest at Rockefeller)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Last Species Counted:</b>&nbsp;Monk Parakeet&nbsp;(at Aiello Park, a life bird for me!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Birds Of Note:</b>&nbsp;Red-throated Loon, Barred Owl, Monk Parakeet, Virginia Rail, Brant, Red-breasted Merganser, Black-crowned Night Heron, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Hooded Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, adult Bald Eagle, displaying American Woodcock, nesting Brown Creeper, two Rose-breasted Grosbeak nests, nesting Cooper's Hawk, nesting Cliff Swallows, and a decent selection of shorebird species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, first I should mention, for those that weren't aware, I tabled the Rockefeller Big Day for this year and expanded out to all of Westchester County. I felt like I needed a change, and I thought it unlikely that I would repeat the spectacular warbler numbers from last year (boy was I right!). It also gave me a chance to experience a lot of fabulous birding areas (such as Ward Pound Ridge Reservation and Muscoot Farm) that I've heard about, but haven't been able to get away from my Rockefeller research to visit. Second, I joined a team this year with David Miller and Eric Reubel. Two top-notch birders that had scouted and planned out an incredible route that was responsible for our success despite the weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our first stop was at Swan Lake at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. We began the Birdathon with our scope trained on the Cooper's Hawk nest and got to watch an adult launch off the nest and into the trees. We dipped on the White-eyed Vireo this round, but we had spectacular looks at Orchard Oriole. In addition to the Cooper's Hawk, we also picked up Rose-breasted Grosbeak (x2), American Redstart, Yellow Warbler, and Eastern Bluebird nests.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Next was Eagle Hill at Rockefeller, and things were quiet and disappointing. We gained very little, aside from Eastern Pheobe and Wood Thrush nests. The Louisiana Waterthrush singing here at 2:40pm remained completely silent and hidden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our stop at the fields in front of Buttermilk Hill yielded the desired singing Bobolinks, but we dipped on the Brown Thrasher and Savannah Sparrow we hoped to get there. The entrance fields to Ferguson's Loop provided the needed Solitary Sandpiper and, surprise, the Savannah Sparrow we had just dipped on. We hopped into the car and headed for the Long Island Sound, a bit more confident, but still with great trepidation about our low numbers and missed species.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Marshlands Conservancy was gray, cold, and relatively silent on land (we got our feeder Wild Turkeys though). But our luck and confidence changed out on the marshes. We had great luck with shorebirds; getting more diversity than expected. We had American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Semipalmated Plover. We also picked up both Forster's and Common Terns. We also picked up our first Red-throated Loon and a big flyover flock of Brant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">An after-dark stop at Aiello Park failed to pick up any Night Herons out on the mud flats, so we headed north. Several stops for owls produced no joy. We wound up the night after midnight at a beautiful freshwater marsh complex near Goldens Bridge, NY. While waiting for our Virginia Rail to call, we also finally picked up a calling Barred Owl. Exhausted (and hungry) I drove back down to Tarrytown to grab less than two hours sleep and replenish supplies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were supposed to meet at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation at 4:45am, but I was late (body not moving fast on 2 hours sleep). As soon as I rolled into the parking lot, we picked up displaying American Woodcock. More stops in the Reservation produced singing Pine, Worm-eating, and Prairie Warblers, as well as the nesting Brown Creeper and our missing Louisiana Waterthrush.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Muscoot Farm provided our missing Hooded Warbler and Chestnut-sided Warbler. While stops along the Cross River Reservoir provided a surprise adult Bald Eagle, our Common Loon, our only true migrant warbler in the form of a Blackpoll, and nesting Cliff Swallow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A stop for Green Heron didn't provide the heron, but did provide our missing Northern Waterthrush. Another stop at David's house did not provide the hoped for Red-shouldered Hawk or Ruby-throated Hummingbird, but did provide needed coffee and a nice bathroom. We dipped at our Bank Swallow spot, before heading south again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A second stop at Swan Lake in Rockefeller proved the charm for White-eyed Vireo, but not for any migrant warblers or the cuckoos we had hoped to pick up here. A quick stop at Devries Park in Sleepy Hollow provided our missing Belted Kingfisher like magic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Returning to the Long Island Sound, Edith G. Read Sanctuary provided little besides our second Red-throated Loon of the Birdathon, but it was in nice and close. The winds greatly increased on the coast and the rain continued to become heavier and more steady. A second visit to Marshlands provided Red-breasted Merganser and face-fulls of wind-driven rain.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With 103 species and flagging hopes for more with decreasing time and increasing weather, we arrived back at Aiello Park in New Rochelle at around 2pm. Immediately upon exiting the car we picked up our missing Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, and Great Blue Heron (I know, I can't believe we were still missing GBHE at this point). Moments later, our missing American Black Duck was found associating with a couple of mallards in the middle of the inlet. Across the street our missing Ring-billed Gull looped lazily around the playground in the gale winds. At this point, the weather temporarily broke our brave friend David (and he's from England), but rain-soaked persistence underneath the Monk Parakeet nests on the light towers produced a few distinctive squawks for our last new species of the Birdathon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In our last half-hour a visit to Glen Island Park at the southwestern-most tip of Westchester County provided a surprising number of good birds for the weather, but alas no Laughing Gull or anything else new for that matter. Soaked to the bone, yet pleased with our performance, we made the long drive back to where we dropped the cars at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-73329931014948528682016-12-21T23:35:00.002-05:002016-12-22T10:16:49.802-05:00It's That Time Of Year Again...Yes, I know I've been awful about posting for most of this year. I've been undergoing some transitions, and I hope to rectify this deficit in the coming year.<br /><br />However, while not as much as I would like, I did get out to photograph quite a bit in 2016. Here is a round-up (in no particular order) of 12 of my favorite images from the year (many of them posted for the first time).<br /><br />1. "Fall Morning, George D. Aiken Wilderness"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfShgrWGsns/WFnrRskhngI/AAAAAAAABRg/BECSmY8iUF4ACa1wKwWA3WbZbwuRvAOVQCLcB/s1600/GeorgeDAikenWilderness-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfShgrWGsns/WFnrRskhngI/AAAAAAAABRg/BECSmY8iUF4ACa1wKwWA3WbZbwuRvAOVQCLcB/s1600/GeorgeDAikenWilderness-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />This year I embarked on a long-term book project called "The Smallest Wilderness" and I've started to visit some of the more local wilderness areas that qualify for the project. This fall I had the opportunity to visit the George D. Aiken Wilderness in the Green Mountains of Vermont on a pair of beautiful mid-October days. This 4800 acre federal Wilderness Area was established in 1984 and contains no trails. All travel is by bushwhacking and map/compass navigation (and/or GPS). This is one of my favorite images, taken just after sunrise, that captures the beauty and character of this unique wilderness.<br /><br />2. "Fairytale"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2yT1cbt5Cw/WFnuUxXTmyI/AAAAAAAABR0/ZsjvN8O2q2gltx_sPOdZbbSjYNAgRjXBACLcB/s1600/Fairytale-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n2yT1cbt5Cw/WFnuUxXTmyI/AAAAAAAABR0/ZsjvN8O2q2gltx_sPOdZbbSjYNAgRjXBACLcB/s1600/Fairytale-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />This year I also joined a camera club and have been competing in both the "Traditional" and "New Dimensions" categories. "New Dimensions" is not my usual mode of operation, but I wanted to continuing learning and expanding my abilities for artistic expression. This composite is not a "nature" photograph, but I'm very happy with it and it has inspired a new body of work for me, exploring fairytale tropes from a feminist and metaphorical perspective. All the elements in this composite were derived photographically (except the horizon line). The trees and coy-wolves are from images taken in Shenandoah National Park. The grass is from an image taken in Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The road is from Croton Point Park in Croton-on-Hudson, NY. And the "model" (my daughter) was photographed outside in my driveway.<br /><br />3. "Fall At Val-Kill"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EG1iRAXyUY/WFnyEgz6OLI/AAAAAAAABSI/2rAV6waKXF4Jf0GV252ZfAW4vbULt-PMgCLcB/s1600/ValKillHayBale-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8EG1iRAXyUY/WFnyEgz6OLI/AAAAAAAABSI/2rAV6waKXF4Jf0GV252ZfAW4vbULt-PMgCLcB/s1600/ValKillHayBale-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />This quintessential rural fall scene comes from the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. I spent a beautiful fall morning photographing with my old friend Patty Hankins (up from Maryland). The mown field, circular hay bales, fall foliage, and lovely cloud formations made an irresistible subject. This is a two image (shot vertically) panorama.<br /><br />4. "Tarrytown Reservoir"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uWYgvM98lY/WFn12455AKI/AAAAAAAABSc/0LBljvv05_UOTzE4mT1DjWxrI5zwMVb1ACLcB/s1600/TarrytownReservoir-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5uWYgvM98lY/WFn12455AKI/AAAAAAAABSc/0LBljvv05_UOTzE4mT1DjWxrI5zwMVb1ACLcB/s1600/TarrytownReservoir-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I actually captured this image as a background for another "New Dimensions" creation, but I think it works well on its own. I saw the heavy fog this morning and threw my camera gear in the car when I brought my daughter to school. Once I got to the Reservoir, I was glad I decided to give it a shot. Perfect fog conditions lasted for about an hour before completely burning off.<br /><br />5. "Beech Leaf In Ice"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IbR6CFEDdtc/WFn8IFA0QGI/AAAAAAAABS0/A8IVs7tntBYfl9mdfpEK99O2TDRfMwF3gCLcB/s1600/BeechLeafIce-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IbR6CFEDdtc/WFn8IFA0QGI/AAAAAAAABS0/A8IVs7tntBYfl9mdfpEK99O2TDRfMwF3gCLcB/s1600/BeechLeafIce-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm always fascinated by the myriad of patterns formed by air bubbles, cracks, and crystal structure in ice. One of my favorite photographic subjects is the thin layers of ice that form over fast moving streams or shallow puddles in extremely cold weather. On this trip to Rockefeller State Park Preserve I went specifically looking for old fall leaves trapped in ice and I wasn't disappointed.<br /><br />6. "Sky Islands"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dn0HyOWdOJ8/WFsUrsEe2RI/AAAAAAAABTM/3QR8jeNiumszb7lpJ9KZw-EWxP_egmqRACLcB/s1600/SkyIslands-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dn0HyOWdOJ8/WFsUrsEe2RI/AAAAAAAABTM/3QR8jeNiumszb7lpJ9KZw-EWxP_egmqRACLcB/s1600/SkyIslands-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Another image from "The Smallest Wilderness" project, the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Wilderness is a wonderland of 3660 acres of freshwater wetlands just 26 miles west of Times Square. It was difficult finding a way to capture the beauty of the wooded wetlands in this wilderness, without losing any semblance of artistic composition in the unruly tangles of vegetation.<br /><br />7. "Mother Yellow"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V73396UiQ-U/WFsg3IOPPPI/AAAAAAAABTk/NQZ-A6CJT18PJw-51zULp9YXBBFS2Ow5gCLcB/s1600/NestingYellow-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V73396UiQ-U/WFsg3IOPPPI/AAAAAAAABTk/NQZ-A6CJT18PJw-51zULp9YXBBFS2Ow5gCLcB/s1600/NestingYellow-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I normally don't do a lot of photographic work at bird's nests, except under very special conditions. The potential for disturbance, versus the chance for new photographic material is too great. However, this female yellow warbler built its nest right next to the busy public boardwalk at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. I still did my best to reduce my presence/disturbance, but she was either going to adapt to human disturbance or the nest would fail, and anything I did was unlikely to change that.<br /><br />8. "Sand Flats, Monomoy Wilderness"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT_CKXes6eE/WFsxzZUTvDI/AAAAAAAABT8/ZtBtrHRkDZIZeeYlcKQfq04myVu13vtIgCLcB/s1600/MonomoySandFlats-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT_CKXes6eE/WFsxzZUTvDI/AAAAAAAABT8/ZtBtrHRkDZIZeeYlcKQfq04myVu13vtIgCLcB/s1600/MonomoySandFlats-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Another image from "The Smallest Wilderness" project, taken when I sea-kayaked out to North Monomoy early this fall. The knob you can barely make out in the center background is the actual island that is exposed at high tide. All the foreground is the extensive (and impressive) sand flats that surround this part of the island wilderness. Monomoy is also a National Wildlife Refuge, but all of North Monomoy and most of South Monomoy are designated federal wilderness totaling approximately 3244 constantly shifting acres.<br /><br />9. "Intertidal"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpHRfuDBD3g/WFs-qzUUubI/AAAAAAAABUU/mJ49zd6JossgkBaIolpve2wV0zf25uzpwCLcB/s1600/Intertidal-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VpHRfuDBD3g/WFs-qzUUubI/AAAAAAAABUU/mJ49zd6JossgkBaIolpve2wV0zf25uzpwCLcB/s1600/Intertidal-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />While on vacation with the family near Mt. Dessert Island in ME, I was able to sneak away one morning for a little photography. This vertical panorama was made from 5 horizontal images on the famous Boulder Beach near Otter Cliffs.<br /><br />10. "Feeding Dowitcher"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzyn0cmM54Y/WFtQzNPwGoI/AAAAAAAABU4/y-gZs2JkHj4o24b3aO-tH9bKkE3cVzywQCLcB/s1600/FeedingDowitcher-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gzyn0cmM54Y/WFtQzNPwGoI/AAAAAAAABU4/y-gZs2JkHj4o24b3aO-tH9bKkE3cVzywQCLcB/s1600/FeedingDowitcher-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Queens, NY has to be one of my favorite spots to photograph shorebirds. The trail around the mudflats of East Pond gives you unprecedented access to the birds. If you lie (or even stand) still in a good spot, the birds will come to you. I've had peeps walking back and forth feeding less than two feet in front of me. They get a good diversity of species as well. Early this fall I had a bunch of great opportunities to get spectacular images of short-billed dowitchers, in flocks and individually.<br /><br />11. "Forest On Fire"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0dtYmnXgvY/WFtRXY8ZmYI/AAAAAAAABVI/o0heffTi3CEkAg0Pd2MhdNLXjm3fvgL9ACLcB/s1600/ForestOnFire-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G0dtYmnXgvY/WFtRXY8ZmYI/AAAAAAAABVI/o0heffTi3CEkAg0Pd2MhdNLXjm3fvgL9ACLcB/s1600/ForestOnFire-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I had an opportunity to photograph the fall foliage in the Adirondack Mountains of New York this year. I came back with many fine images, but this one of the sunrise light just hitting one ridge full of peak foliage is one of my favorites.<br /><br />12. "Black Skimmer In Flight"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-YB_1WqHqY/WFtWhCkKXhI/AAAAAAAABVg/KQYR8xSoyEEgX3dddwWJHqKAKyGsMTQEQCLcB/s1600/BlackSkimmerFlight-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D-YB_1WqHqY/WFtWhCkKXhI/AAAAAAAABVg/KQYR8xSoyEEgX3dddwWJHqKAKyGsMTQEQCLcB/s1600/BlackSkimmerFlight-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />When you first start birding (particularly if you're young) certain birds just capture your imagination. They seem so exotic and rare. The black skimmer was one of those birds for me and I still remember seeing my first one. This spring I had the opportunity to enjoy some time at Nickerson Beach on Long Island which hosts a large colony of nesting common terns and black skimmers (as well as a bunch of pairs of oystercatchers). It's a fabulous place to photograph, particularly if you are packing a long lens. On this particular trip I had rented a beast of a Canon 400mm f/2.8. I might have trimmed one of the wingtips a bit in this image, but I'm still really pleased with the sharpness, framing, and even horizon of this shot, particularly when trying to handhold that behemoth lens.<br /><br /><br />Well, I'm going to stop there at twelve images, one for each month, although these images aren't evenly distributed throughout the year. I tried for a breadth of images from different shoots, even though on many shoots it was really hard to make a decision because I had more than a few really good shots. I've left some great images to post later, one way or another. And I promise I will post more in the coming year.<br /><br />I wish all of my fans, followers, and friends Happy Holidays and best wishes for a great New Year! Your first step to a fabulous 2017 is to get outdoors more and enjoy this incredible planet and all its wild beauty.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-16766475777123218352016-05-16T21:59:00.001-04:002016-05-25T19:47:11.609-04:00Rockefeller Big Day 2016- Post-Birdathon Analysis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jigQiEhKaPQ/Vzood9wBt3I/AAAAAAAABNs/VnIxzZ1i298yabe0KXaMoIwsTOGPW-XRQCKgB/s1600/RockefellerTreeSwallow-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jigQiEhKaPQ/Vzood9wBt3I/AAAAAAAABNs/VnIxzZ1i298yabe0KXaMoIwsTOGPW-XRQCKgB/s1600/RockefellerTreeSwallow-1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, what a day of birding it was! First, I'll start with some stats and facts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Official Species Total:</b> 93</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Individual Birds Counted:</b> ~930</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>eBird Checklists Submitted:</b> 11</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Miles Walked:</b> ~18.65</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Hours Actually Birded:</b>&nbsp;~16 hours and 27 minutes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>First Species Counted:</b> American Robin (but really a tie with about 5 other species)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Last Species Counted:</b> Ring-billed Gull (flock scoped across the river from Rockwood Hall)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Warbler Species Counted:</b> 21(Wow!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Rockefeller Trails Covered:</b>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rockwood Hall-Foundation Loop, Middle Trail, Upper Trail, Lower Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eagle Hill-Eagle Hill Trail, Gory Brook Road Trail, Pocantico River Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">13 Bridges-13 Bridges Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Swan Lake-Brother's Path, Overlook Trail, Ash Tree Loop, Farm Meadow Trail, Old Sleepy Hollow Road Trail, Nature's Way, Glacial Erratic Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Buttermilk Hill-Buttermilk Hill Trail, Lucy's Loop, 117 Lucy's Loop Access Nature Trail, Laurence's Ridge Trail, Ferguson's Loop Trail</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Stone Barns-Unnamed Farm Trail (closest to Rt. 448)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Birds I Missed From My "Must Get" List (see my <a href="http://blog.bestnatureimages.com/2016/05/rockefeller-big-day-2016.html" target="_blank">previous blog post</a>):</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Wood Duck</b>- I just continue to have bad luck with the Swan Lake wood ducks, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I came back in the evening right before the end in hopes of catching them, but no joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Rock Pigeon</b>- I couldn't believe that I couldn't locate one of these buggers, either at Rockwood Hall or Stone Barns, but it was not to be. I fear I probably missed some flying over earlier in the day while I was focused on all the great warblers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Fish Crow</b>- These can be hit or miss around here, particularly on Rockefeller property and unfortunately, this was one of the miss days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Brown Thrasher</b>- I came up empty at both my known locations for this species, some times they just seem to disappear for a while and then they are back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Pine Warbler</b>- Unfortunately, the migration gods giveth and the migration gods taketh away. The weather that ushered in all the great warblers, seems to have carried the last of these straggling early warblers with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>White-throated Sparrow</b>- As with the pine warbler, the migratory push seems to have caused a mass exodus of this species (there were tons two days previous). I'm sure there are probably a few stragglers around, but I couldn't find them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>House Finch</b>- Like the pigeon, this one hurt. I should have picked it up. My usual location came up empty and I didn't have a reliable back-up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Birds I Got From My "Pick-Up or Occasional" List:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Great Egret, Osprey, Killdeer, Solitary Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Blue-headed Vireo, White-eyed Vireo, Common Raven, Swainson's Thrush, Chesnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Canada Warbler, Cape May Warbler</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Summary</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to admit that the Rockefeller Big Day/Birdathon this year ranks up there with some of my favorite birding experiences of all time. This is a big admission for me. I'm not a lister and I generally enjoy a slower pace of birding where I can take my time and observe each species as much as I want. I'm honestly more of a scientist than a birder. However, the birding was so excellent this weekend, there was just so much to see and enjoy, and though it slowed in the afternoon, it never really slowed enough to get boring or fail to counteract the creeping exhaustion that seeps in after so many hours birding and hiking.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The big story and highlight was the warbler migration. I saw 21 species of warbler on just Rockefeller lands, in a pretty short amount of time. The quantity and diversity of warblers was truly astounding. And they almost weren't in discrete knots, they were just everywhere. This made the warbling more relaxed as I wasn't frantically trying to sort out a handful of different species in a large and rapidly moving flock of yellow-rumped warblers. In particular, I've never seen so many magnolia, Canada, and Tennessee warblers at one time. Highlights included great looks at a blackburnian warbler at the base of Overlook Hill at Swan Lake; great looks at Canada warblers along the Pocantico River below Eagle Hill and along the edge of Swan Lake; great looks at magnolia warblers, just about everywhere; great looks at a singing chestnut-sided warbler and a bay-breasted warbler along the Ferguson's Loop trail; a singing early morning Tennessee warbler at the base of Eagle Hill (really my first indication that Saturday was going to be a great day); and the return of a singing hooded warbler in the Buttermilk Hill area (which I got great looks at this morning).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other highlights include: great looks at a pair of Swainson's thrushes on Ferguson's Loop trail; a low osprey flyover on the Old Sleepy Hollow Road trail; a fledgling great horned owl clambering from limb to limb in the early morning at the base of its nest tree; an extremely close solitary sandpiper on the flotsam at the end of Swan Lake; a lone barn swallow gliding over the foggy Hudson during a truly spectacular sunset; and a flock of 18 bobolinks with males singing and displaying their hearts out, right next to the cows at Stone Barns. I also enjoyed sharing a joy for birds with an ultrasound technician taking an evening stroll around Rockwood Hall Friday night, and my daughter's friend, Charlotte, and her mom, Connie, coming out to participate in the Birdathon and accompanying me on a warbler-filled trip over Overlook Hill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks so much to all who have donated on behalf of my Birdathon effort. It means a lot to me and your donations will help bird conservation in this area, and beyond, through the education and outreach efforts of both Saw Mill River Audubon and Rockefeller State Park Preserve. If you'd still like to make a donation, it's not too late. Here is the link:<a href="http://www.sawmillriveraudubon.org/birdathon/birdathon-payment.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;http://www.sawmillriveraudubon.org/birdathon/birdathon-payment.html</a>. Donations of any amount are very welcome.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy spring! There are still a few more weeks of migration left. Get out and enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-13991375178721280632016-05-12T23:04:00.000-04:002016-05-12T23:04:26.029-04:00Rockefeller Big Day 2016!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krmwPfSesp8/VzUqGYbdwYI/AAAAAAAABNQ/mWTtKlabsQ8fBvdi4Jcx-yCJLMDb6LkdgCLcB/s1600/RockefellerRobin-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krmwPfSesp8/VzUqGYbdwYI/AAAAAAAABNQ/mWTtKlabsQ8fBvdi4Jcx-yCJLMDb6LkdgCLcB/s1600/RockefellerRobin-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />The big event is almost here. <a href="http://www.birdday.org/" target="_blank">International Migratory Bird Day</a>, <a href="http://ebird.org/globalbigday/" target="_blank">Global Big Day</a>, the 1st annual <a href="http://www.sawmillriveraudubon.org/birdathon/index.html" target="_blank">Westchester Birdathon</a>, and my 2nd annual Rockefeller Big Day all coincide this weekend. From 7pm May 13th to 7pm May 14th, I'll be trying to find as many bird species as I can within the Rockefeller complex. My efforts will be raising money for both Rockefeller State Park Preserve and Saw Mill River Audubon. Saw Mill will be using their portion of the proceeds to support their youth birding education programs and Rockefeller will be using the funds to help support my research on wood thrush and other interior forest species on the preserve and their conservation. It is not too late to donate towards this fundraising effort. You can support my Birdathon effort with a flat donation of any amount ($5, $10, $20, or more) or you can decide to donate a certain amount per species recorded (for example, $0.25, $0.50, or $1 per species). If you decide to donate a flat amount, you can <a href="http://www.sawmillriveraudubon.org/birdathon/birdathon-payment.html" target="_blank">donate right now</a>. Don't forget to indicate that you are donating towards my birding effort. If you decide to donate per species, just let me know how much you wish to donate per species and how to contact you. I'll give you an update once the Birdathon is over. Thanks so much to those generous souls who have already donated!<br /><br />Once again, my goal is to see at least 100 species within the Rockefeller Preserve complex (includes Stone Barns and Rockefeller Family property). This is a tall order, but I know it can be done. The weather is looking a bit iffy (it could be worse), but who doesn't like a challenge right?<br /><br />For the rest of this blog, for those who are interested, I'm going to work out my strategy for finding 100+ species in the Preserve complex. This is as much for my own planning, as for those who might find it interesting and those who have already donated to my effort.<br /><br /><b>Must Get Species </b>(common species on the preserve that I must get to have a chance)<br /><br />1. &nbsp; Canada Goose (Swan Lake and most other parts of the Preserve)<br />2. &nbsp; Wood Duck (Swan Lake, but I haven't had good luck seeing them so far this year)<br />3. &nbsp; Mallard (Swan Lake, and many other parts of the Preserve)<br />4. &nbsp; Wild Turkey (Buttermilk Hill or Eagle Hill, possibly Swan Lake)<br />5. &nbsp; Double Crested Cormorant (Swan Lake, or possibly Rockwood Hall out on the Hudson)<br />6. &nbsp; Black Vulture (Eagle Hill or flying over other parts of Preserve)<br />7. &nbsp; Turkey Vulture (Eagle Hill or flying over other parts of Preserve)<br />8. &nbsp; Red-tailed Hawk (nest in Eagle Hill area)<br />9. &nbsp; Herring Gull (hopefully on the Hudson at Rockwood Hall)<br />10. Rock Pigeon (Stone Barns or Rockwood Hall)<br />11. Mourning Dove (Buttermilk Hill and other areas)<br />12. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Pair on Nature's Way near Swan Lake)<br />13. Great Horned Owl (nest in Eagle Hill area)<br />14. Chimney Swift (Eagle Hill and flying over other parts of Preserve)<br />15. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Everywhere)<br />16. Downy Woodpecker (Everywhere)<br />17. Hairy Woodpecker (Eagle Hill and Buttermilk Hill best bets)<br />18. Northern Flicker (Everywhere)<br />19. Pileated Woodpecker (Buttermilk Hill and other areas, less luck with them this year...)<br />20. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, 13 Bridges)<br />21. Eastern Pheobe (13 Bridges, Eagle Hill)<br />22. Great Crested Flycatcher (Swan Lake, Buttermilk Hill)<br />23. Eastern Kingbird (Swan Lake, Buttermilk Hill)<br />24. Yellow-throated Vireo (Swan Lake area best bet)<br />25. Warbling Vireo (Everywhere, particularly Swan Lake)<br />26. Red-eyed Vireo (Everywhere, particularly Eagle Hill and Swan Lake areas)<br />27. Blue Jay (Everywhere)<br />28. American Crow (Everywhere)<br />29. Fish Crow (hopefully at Rockwood Hall, but can show up elsewhere)<br />30. Tree Swallow (Swan Lake, Eagle Hill, and other areas)<br />31. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Eagle Hill area and Swan Lake)<br />32. Barn Swallow (Swan Lake and Buttermilk Hill, maybe Stone Barns)<br />33. Black-capped Chickadee (Everywhere)<br />34. Tufted Titmouse (Everywhere)<br />35. White-breasted Nuthatch (Everywhere)<br />36. Carolina Wren (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake)<br />37. House Wren (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake)<br />38. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (nests at Eagle Hill and Swan Lake)<br />39. Eastern Bluebird (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake)<br />40. Veery (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, and 13 Bridges)<br />41. Wood Thrush (Everywhere)<br />42. American Robin (Everywhere)<br />43. Gray Catbird (Everywhere, particularly anywhere swampy or scrubby)<br />44. Northern Mockingbird (Buttermilk Hill and others)<br />45. Brown Thrasher (Buttermilk Hill, Ferguson's Loop)<br />46. European Starling (Everywhere)<br />47. Cedar Waxwing (most reliable near Nature's Way)<br />48. Blue-winged Warbler (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />49. Northern Parula (Swan Lake, Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill)<br />50. Yellow Warbler (Everywhere)<br />51. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill)<br />52. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />53. Black-throated Green Warbler (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill)<br />54. Pine Warbler (OCA, Peggy's Way interchange)<br />55. Black-and-white Warbler (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />56. American Redstart (Everywhere)<br />57. Ovenbird (Buttermilk Hill and Eagle Hill best bets)<br />58. Louisiana Waterthrush (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, 13 Bridges)<br />59. Common Yellowthroat (Eagle Hill, Buttermilk Hill, Swan Lake)<br />60. Scarlet Tanager (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />61. Eastern Towhee (Everywhere)<br />62. Chipping Sparrow (Rockwood Hall and others)<br />63. Savannah Sparrow (Buttermilk Hill and others)<br />64. Song Sparrow (Everywhere)<br />65. Swamp Sparrow (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake area)<br />66. White-throated Sparrow (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />67. Northern Cardinal (Buttermilk Hill, Eagle Hill, Swan Lake)<br />68. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Swan Lake and Buttermilk Hill particularly)<br />69. Indigo Bunting (Eagle Hill and Buttermilk Hill)<br />70. Bobolink (Buttermilk Hill)<br />71. Red-winged Blackbird (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake)<br />72. Common Grackle (Rockwood Hall and Swan Lake in particular)<br />73. Brown-headed Cowbird (Everywhere)<br />74. Orchard Oriole (Swan Lake and Eagle Hill)<br />75. Baltimore Oriole (Everywhere)<br />76. House Finch (Buttermilk Hill and Eagle Hill)<br />77. American Goldfinch (Everywhere)<br />78. House Sparrow (Buttermilk Hill and Swan Lake)<br /><br /><b>Pick-up or Occasional Species (must get at least 22)</b><br /><br />-Great Blue Heron (Swan Lake, Eagle Hill, Ferguson's Loop, they are around just finding them)<br />-Green Heron (sighted at Swan Lake, but can be hit or miss)<br />-Great Egret (has been one at Swan Lake this week)<br />-Osprey (possible flying over or over Hudson at Rockwood Hall)<br />-Bald Eagle (possible flying over or over Hudson at Rockwood Hall or from Eagle Hill)<br />-Sharp-shinned Hawk (around, just hit or miss)<br />-Cooper's Hawk (around, just hit or miss)<br />-Broad-winged Hawk (around, possible at Buttermilk Hill or Eagle Hill)<br />-Killdeer (hopefully pick up in Stone Barns area)<br />-Spotted Sandpiper (has been seen at Swan Lake)<br />-Solitary Sandpiper (has been seen at Swan Lake)<br />-Ring-billed Gull (hopefully on Hudson at Rockwood Hall, possible elsewhere)<br />-Great Black-backed Gull (hopefully on Hudson at Rockwood Hall)<br />-Black-billed Cuckoo (possible, but don't think it has been seen yet this year)<br />-Eastern Screech-Owl (they are around, would be a great evening pick-up)<br />-Ruby-throated Hummingbird (around, just not always seen)<br />-Belted Kingfisher (used to be fairly reliable on Pocantico near Eagle Hill, not seen this year)<br />-Least Flycatcher (around, would be a good pick up species)<br />-Blue-headed Vireo (around, Eagle Hill and Buttermilk Hill most likely candidates)<br />-White-eyed Vireo (likely in Swan Lake area, but can be hit or miss)<br />-Common Raven (around, not seen much lately)<br />-Winter Wren (has been around this spring, likely moved on)<br />-Ruby-crowned Kinglet (around, not as common as it was a few weeks ago)<br />-Gray-cheeked Thrush (around but occassional, Eagle Hill and 13 Bridges seem to be good)<br />-Swainson's Thrush (around, one seen at top of Eagle Hill recently)<br />-Hermit Thrush (still possible, but likely moved on)<br />-Nashville Warbler (around, hit or miss, but seen/heard at Swan Lake and Eagle Hill recently)<br />-Chestnut-sided Warbler (around, possible)<br />-Magnolia Warbler (lots around lately, good possibility, but can be hit or miss)<br />-Blackburnian Warbler (likely, just not as frequent as last year)<br />-Northern Waterthrush (still possible near Swan Lake and other places, not as evident as a week ago)<br />-Prairie Warbler (northern end of Lucy's Loop trail, can be hit or miss)<br />-Palm Warbler (most seem to have moved on, but possible)<br />-Bay-breasted Warbler (around, possible)<br />-Blackpoll Warbler (around, possible)<br />-Worm-eating Warbler (possible, but rare, one sighting near Eagle Hill recently)<br />-Hooded Warbler (possible, frequent last year in Buttermilk Hill area, but not so far this year)<br />-Wilson's Warbler (around, possible)<br />-Canada Warlber (around, possible)<br />-Field Sparrow (possible, seem to have moved on)<br />-White-crowned Sparrow (possible, moving through general area, but unlikely)<br />-Dark-eyed Junco (seem to have moved on this year, but late one is possible)<br />-American Kestrel (possible, but unlikely)<br />-Merlin (possible, but unlikely)<br />-Peregrine (possible from Rockwood Hall, but unlikely)<br />-American Woodcock (one displaying earlier near Buttermilk Hill, but unlikely)<br />-Cape May Warbler (around, possible)<br />-Lincoln's Sparrow (around, possible)<br /><br /><b>Tentative Plan</b><br /><br />7pm May 13th: Start at Rockwood Hall where I can hopefully scan something interesting moving on the Hudson, plus pick up some of the common species. Next before darkness falls, I'll move to the Eagle Hill and 13 Bridges areas to listen for late singing thrushes. As it gets dark I'll be listening for woodcock and eastern screech-owl as I move out of Eagle Hill area and back to the car. From their I'll probably drive the roads the go through the Preserve complex and listen for owls, turkeys, and possible woodcock. Then I'll head home for some rest.<br /><br />2-3am May 14th. I'll head out for a few more hours owling etc... I'll hit Eagle Hill for civil twilight and the dawn chorus, then plan to move to Swan Lake as soon as the parking lot opens to get early morning birds there and possible to herons or sandpipers before they get disturbed by the crowds. After a thorough tour of the Swan Lake area, I'll head over to do Buttermilk Hill, Ferguson's Loop, and Stone Barns. During the mid-afternoon doldrums, I'll head over to Rockwood Hall to scan the river etc... Late afternoon I will head back for a thorough tour of Eagle Hill and 13 Bridges.<br /><br />Of course, I will adjust this plan as the day progresses and I see what "Must Get" species I'm still missing or what "Pick-up and Occasional" species I still might need to get or seem most likely.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-24142430454790492712016-04-01T18:10:00.003-04:002016-04-07T23:46:12.982-04:00Peeking Screech Owl<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84j_muJh13U/Vv7w17ORxII/AAAAAAAABMs/eydeihMF8uYsxV34xDlbDE-r9Yl6Dhvvw/s1600/PeekingScreech-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-84j_muJh13U/Vv7w17ORxII/AAAAAAAABMs/eydeihMF8uYsxV34xDlbDE-r9Yl6Dhvvw/s1600/PeekingScreech-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peeking eastern screech owl (<i>Megascops asio</i>) at Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/4-5.6 lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/11, 0.3 seconds.&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Just a quick post to share this image of a peeking eastern screech owl (<i>Megascops asio</i>) I visited on a recent overcast morning. I hope to return soon at a time when the light is more interesting and this little guy is more awake (and hopefully the nearby great horned owl nest is more active as well).<br /><br />Happy April Fools!Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-396677772172708312016-03-14T16:43:00.001-04:002016-03-14T16:45:49.345-04:00Great Swamp Wilderness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-U3EZ4NDY8/VucWRSLfGCI/AAAAAAAABLs/2n8W9-wgwG8OFsWuJUXO2GmVkN17DtnyQ/s1600/GreatSwampWildernessGeese-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p-U3EZ4NDY8/VucWRSLfGCI/AAAAAAAABLs/2n8W9-wgwG8OFsWuJUXO2GmVkN17DtnyQ/s1600/GreatSwampWildernessGeese-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two Canada geese (<i>Branta canadensis</i>) swim into a fog bank backlit by the rising sun, Great Swamp Wilderness, Great Swamp NWR, New Jersey. Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm <i>f</i>/5.6 lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/6.3, 1/500th of a second.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Recently I've been spending some time hiking (wading?) the Great Swamp Wilderness in New Jersey for a book project I'm working on. Since today is the 113th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System, it seemed appropriate to share a few images from one of my trips. On March 14, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt designated Pelican Island in Florida the first US (and world) wildlife refuge. Incidentally, Pelican Island itself was also later designated a federal wilderness area as well.<br /><br />The eastern portion of Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was designated as wilderness in 1968, making it the first wilderness in the National Wildlife Refuge System and the Department of the Interior as a whole. With the exception of the near constant sound of aircraft overhead, once you are out in the middle of this wilderness, you would never know you were only 26 miles west of Times Square in NYC.<br /><br />If you are a connoisseur of Northeast wetlands, the Great Swamp Wilderness has a little bit of everything for you. Wooded wetlands, shrubby wetlands, small streams, large brooks, open ponds, large open cattail marshes (mostly) unspoiled by <i>Phragmites</i>,&nbsp;and vernal pools of all shapes and sizes. Bring your Wellies or hip waders, and/or expect to get wet and muddy, both on trail and off in this wilderness (<i>with a name like Great Swamp, really, what were you expecting?</i>). Besides mud, the wildlife is also abundant, with a couple of trips in March yielding great looks at otter and mink, plenty of wood frogs, plus wild turkey, bald eagle, and plentiful wood ducks, among many other avian species.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmkB8-2_Tk0/VuchKjGX8NI/AAAAAAAABL4/FHN89YhhutACBL-nraujdSI4eCsyW90kg/s1600/GreatSwampWildernessSwan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmkB8-2_Tk0/VuchKjGX8NI/AAAAAAAABL4/FHN89YhhutACBL-nraujdSI4eCsyW90kg/s1600/GreatSwampWildernessSwan-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A non-native species gone wild, a mute swan (<i>Cygnus olor</i>) is surrounded by tendrils of fog rising off the warm water in the cold air at sunrise, Great Swamp Wilderness, Great Swamp NWR, New Jersey.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon 7D, Sigma 70-300mm&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/5.6 lens, ISO 100,&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/6.3, 1/250th &nbsp;of a second.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-12712336000885409662016-02-29T20:21:00.000-05:002016-02-29T20:43:26.581-05:00Avian Harbingers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4be-yh__Y8A/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4be-yh__Y8A?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The true avian harbingers of spring, a mixed flock of common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, and brown-headed cowbirds (plus some background blue jays) recorded at Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Sleepy Hollow, NY on February 23, 2016.</span></div><br />You can keep your Canada geese. Sure the sound of a flock of musically honking geese flying overhead can bring joy and hope to the hardest heart. But is that a migratory flock headed north for spring, or just the year-round resident flock headed north to the golf course again? What about those flocks heading east, west, and south? So many geese have become untethered from their migratory impulses. How do you tell the harbingers from the "hangers about?"<br /><br />American robin!!? Don't get me started on the American robin. There was a mid-winter roost containing <i><b>thousands</b></i> of birds not far from my college in Massachusetts! That robin on your lawn heralds the start of spring? What about the flock of robins in your mulberry tree last month? There is no doubt that the proliferation of ornamental fruit trees (and perhaps global warming) is increasing the numbers of overwintering robins, but even in the olden days, robins were more likely missed by poets, and the general populace, than they were truly absent during the winter.<br /><br />Bluebirds? There are always some of them around during the winter. See robin.<br /><br />The spring song (hey-sweetie) of the black-capped chickadee you say? Well, you might have an argument there. But the chickadee begins to voice its spring song as soon as the light begins to return around the solstice. It is still the dead of winter. Some of the coldest and snowiest days are still ahead of us. That's jumping the gun a bit as far as harbingers go. The fact that spring will return eventually, is not really in dispute.<br /><br />Eastern meadowlarks or some species of flycatcher or another? Sure, sure, if you like coming late to the table. That's like the weatherperson sticking their hand out of the window to tell you its raining. At this point, all your other senses have already told you what you needed to know. The prophet is delivering yesterday's news.<br /><br />Nope. As a resident of both the inland Northeast and inland Mid-Atlantic, I know in my heart that the true harbingers of spring are the flocks of blackbirds that suddenly appear in my neighborhood tree tops. Sometimes they are common grackles, sometimes red-winged blackbirds, and often a mixture of both. Some may find their songs harsh and grating, a cacophony of rusty hinges (though it's always been music to my ears). But you won't find a truer and more prophetic symphony about spring's imminent arrival. The waves of blackbirds move northward at the first sign of winter's grip weakening and the vast machinery of northward migration always begins, perhaps slowly at first, to chug to life behind them.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFJfcdlCcnA/Vszt_cMFoSI/AAAAAAAABLQ/Ll1K0eJ8YVk/s1600/HuntleyRWBLSinging-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vFJfcdlCcnA/Vszt_cMFoSI/AAAAAAAABLQ/Ll1K0eJ8YVk/s1600/HuntleyRWBLSinging-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing red-winged blackbird perched atop an early spring cattail at Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA. <br />Canon Rebel XTi, Sigma 70-300 <i>f</i>/4-5.6 lens, ISO 100, <i>f</i>/5.6, 1/400th of a second.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1739575201086830963.post-13427397631523022612016-02-15T21:34:00.000-05:002016-02-15T21:34:50.744-05:00Monochromatic<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--h-17pSZ4MY/VsKFeThIgMI/AAAAAAAABKU/bx9u6-C0LiA/s1600/GoryBrookStreamBubbles-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--h-17pSZ4MY/VsKFeThIgMI/AAAAAAAABKU/bx9u6-C0LiA/s1600/GoryBrookStreamBubbles-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Air bubbles trapped under ice, Gory Brook, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Sleepy Hollow, NY. <br />Canon 7D, 180mm macro <i>f</i>/3.5L lens, ISO 800, <i>f</i>/16, 1/15 second.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />When photographing macro patterns in ice, sometimes I find it beneficial to convert to black and white. The monochromatic treatment tends to really bring out the patterns. Our eye is better able to detect and follow patterns of tone without the distraction of color.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhMVG5737tg/VsKG9honInI/AAAAAAAABKg/syUv9gFNgAI/s1600/GoryBrookStreamIceBubblesColor-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhMVG5737tg/VsKG9honInI/AAAAAAAABKg/syUv9gFNgAI/s640/GoryBrookStreamIceBubblesColor-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A color version of the same photo just doesn't have the same pop as the black and white image above. The blue color of the bubbles and the brown of the stream bed distract from the patterns and shapes, rather than add to it. The other blue reflections in the ice also draw the eye away from and lessen the impact of the circular bubbles.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In addition, a black and white image is much more forgiving of larger adjustments to clarity and contrast, which help to emphasize the visual patterns and texture better. In the next image, a monochromatic treatment gave me the opportunity to really crank up the contrast and deemphasize the background and allow the eye to concentrate on the interesting shapes created by the ice.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDmsBpVxwp4/VsKJMAc74xI/AAAAAAAABKs/oBCrpjuKEqM/s1600/GoryBrookStreamIcePattern-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hDmsBpVxwp4/VsKJMAc74xI/AAAAAAAABKs/oBCrpjuKEqM/s1600/GoryBrookStreamIcePattern-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gory Brook stream ice, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Sleepy Hollow, NY. <br />Canon 7D,&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">180mm macro&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/3.5L lens, ISO 100,</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/16, 0.8 seconds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />The last image in this series, is actually very monochromatic in its original form anyways, but I decided not to convert it to black and white. I think the opalescent reflections in the fine details of the ice provide an important point of interest in the otherwise monochromatic scene and add just a tiny bit of magic.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGmLz9I8JBI/VsKJ5gSuY9I/AAAAAAAABK4/Su7P1g-R9kY/s1600/GoryBrookStreamIce-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGmLz9I8JBI/VsKJ5gSuY9I/AAAAAAAABK4/Su7P1g-R9kY/s1600/GoryBrookStreamIce-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice formation at small waterfall, Gory Brook, Rockefeller State Park Preserve, Sleepy Hollow, NY.<br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Canon 7D,&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">180mm macro&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/3.5L lens, ISO 100,</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">&nbsp;</span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">f</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">/22, 1/8 second.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Whimbrel Naturehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12909584190910468971noreply@blogger.com0